Kit Siang and DAP must re-consider court action if they are for Freedom of Expression/Opinion?

If you respect Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Opinion, then Lim Kit Siang and/or DAP will not be suing persons for what they said or wrote...

Well apparently, this politician had said 'that the opposition party[DAP] had been offered RM1.2 billion in exchange for an Israeli naval base in Port Dickson'

Well, if the DAP sues, won't they be no different from Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak, who is suing former MCA president for what he said? 

If you are against Sedition Act, you should not be calling the authorities to take action against another using the Sedition Act..

If you are for the Freedom of Peaceful Assembly, you should be calling for the authorities to take action a person or group exercising their right of Peaceful Assembly...

Sadly, many a Opposition leaders including Nurul Izzah Anwar and even Anwar Ibrahim have been behaving in a manner inconsistent with someone who believes in and support Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Opinion, Freedom of the Press and even Human Rights Defenders...

In this case, an allegation has been made against the DAP - all that is needed is a response by the DAP affirming or confirming. If you want to go further, challenge the one who alleged to an open debate ... No need to commence any defamation suit...

Would your words have more weight if you 'sue in court'? I do not think so...If you sue people that 'highlight' an alleged wrongdoing - it will only deter others from speaking out... such suits are anti-freedoms and rights.

People will judge as to who is telling the truth ...and make up their mind. A court judgment in Malaysia today, I believe has not much weight as far as the ordinary people are concerned - so why sue?

I call upon Lim Kit Siang, the DAP and all other persons who respect human rights and fundamental freedoms to not use 'methods' like suing for defamation that will certainly have the effect of detering people, especially 'smaller' people, from exercising their rights and freedoms...Do we want to deter people from speaking up? Do we want to deter persons from expressing their opinions and views? Do we want to create a situation that even smaller media is fearful to give space for people to express their views? 

See also relevant earlier post:-

Nurul,Najib,... if you are for Freedom of Expression, Freedom of Opinion, HR Defenders, Press Freedom... - Withdraw Defamation Suits?

   

DAP to sue politician for allegations over Israeli offer, says Kit Siang

Published: 2 January 2016 9:50 AM

Lim Kit Siang says DAP will be taking legal action against a politician who alleged that the party has ties with Israel. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, January 2, 2016. 

 

DAP will sue a politician who claimed that the opposition party had been offered RM1.2 billion in exchange for an Israeli naval base in Port Dickson, party parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang says.

He did not name the "senior political leader" but said the person would be sued for defamation.

"According to Quran, slander is a crime worse than murder. I expect DAP lawyers to initiate legal proceedings in a day or two," Lim said in his speech last night at a dinner by Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) at in Petaling Jaya.

Lim, the Gelang Patah MP, said such lies showed a "culture of political desperation in the country". The politician, whom he said was from another party, had made a "reckless allegation" about DAP's ties with Israel.

"Senior political leaders from other political parties who lied about the DAP, like the one who made the preposterous allegation about the DAP being offered RM1.2 billion in exchange for an Israeli naval base in Port Dickson, will have to pay the heavy price for such baseless and reckless allegations in court," Lim said.

"All political leaders must learn the hard lesson that they cannot just get away with lies or the most preposterous allegations, or seek refuge for their nefarious and dastardly deeds by claiming they were merely recycling such lies and falsehoods."

DAP last week became the target of allegations by PAS leaders who criticised Perak DAP economic bureau chief Chong Zhemin after the latter condemned the Youth and Sports Ministry for denying visas to two Israeli athletes to participate in an international sporting event in Langkawi.

Perak PAS Youth chief Mohd Akmal Kamaruddin last week said Chong's statement raised the question of whether DAP supported Israel.

Amanah Youth vice-chief Mohd Fakhrulrazi Mohd Mokhtar had also criticised Chong, defending the government's decision as an appropriate sign of protest against Israel for persecuting Palestinians.

The claim that DAP would be offered money in exchange for an Israeli naval base, however, was allegedly made by PAS research director Dr Mohd Zuhdi Marzuki, as reported by various media. – January 2, 2016.

 

- See more at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/malaysia/article/dap-to-sue-politician-for-allegations-over-israeli-offer-says-kit-siang#sthash.dG42ASsh.dpuf