UM lecturers reveal how freedom relates to a country’s maturity
In its journey towards being a developed nation by 2020, Malaysia appears to have forgotten that freedom is also another measure of development, said Universiti Malaya (UM) lecturer Dr Lee Hwok Aun.
Lee, the UM Academic Staff Union coordinator for the “Solidarity4AzmiSharom” movement, cited Norway, Sweden and Taiwan as examples of developed countries which also encouraged freedom.
"Do not judge development merely based on financial factors only. Freedom is also another measure of a country's development and maturity," Lee told a crowd of students after the lunchtime “hartal”, or strike, held to protest against the Sedition Act and the sedition charges against UM law professor Dr Azmi Sharom.
Azmi also spoke to the crowd of about 100 students, who braved the hot weather to listen to the “outdoor lectures” on freedom. Many of the students participated in the protest earlier.
Azmi said freedom of expression was very important as it played a vital role in a nation's development, saying without conflicting ideas, there would be no good ideas.
"If everyone was just a follower who agreed with what their leaders said, the nation would just chug along without any new ideas or creativity," Azmi said.
Azmi is also president of the UM Academic Staff Union.
Lee and Azmi were joined by another academician from Monash Univeristy, Dr Ahmad Farouk Musa (pic,right), who is also the chairman of the non-governmental organisation Islamic Renaissance Front.
Farouk said people like Azmi were a rarity as they were bold and courageous enough to speak up instead of keeping silent.
"Academicians should also share their knowledge with the world, and not merely within the confines of a classroom or academic journal."
Lee said countries which have more freedom such as Taiwan, Norway and Sweden have all achieved developed nation status, and this included freedom of the press.
"The principles of Vision 2020 are not being adhered to by Putrajaya, which is using a colonial-era law in the Sedition Act 1948 more frequently than ever now."
"Instead of there being more freedom as Malaysia approaches 2020, the nation seems to be regressing with more and more people falling afoul of the Sedition Act."
Azmi said a developed country needed a strong and free press to report on corruption and abuse of power.
“Otherwise, the public will remain in the dark,” he said, and warned that “a heavy price” will be paid by political parties which relied on oppressive laws during the general elections.
Azmi (pic, right) said “nobody was looking for absolute freedom of expression” in Malaysia. However, there appeared to be no curb on the restrictions imposed by Putrajaya.
"That is the problem with Malaysia, there is no limitation on the limitations. Freedom is the ideal, you do not have to justify the freedom, you should justify the limitation.
"Freedom is what gives us dignity as human beings. We cannot be dignified without freedom," Azmi said.
Azmi pleaded not guilty to sedition charges on September 2 over comments made in an article on the 2009 Perak constitutional crisis while speaking about the current Selangor menteri besar impasse. – September 10, 2014.
