Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution guarantees every Malaysian citizen the right to freedom of speech and expression. This constitutional right ensures that all citizens have the freedom to voice their opinions and share their thoughts.

However, this fundamental right seems to be under threat. Recently, several prominent figures and political analysts have faced pressure following their statements or content shared on social media, particularly when discussing issues related to government policies.

Among those targeted are political analyst Lim Sian See; Amira Aisya Abd Aziz, a Member of the State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Puteri Wangsa; and Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, Member of Parliament for Pandan and former Minister of Economics, who resigned over the matter.

More recently, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) filed a civil suit against two channels on the Telegram platform, "Edisi Siasat" and "Edisi Khas." However, MCMC has not clarified the specific content they deemed to undermine public trust in the nation’s institutions or disrupt public order.

Yesterday, Pahang MCA Youth Chief Wong Siew Mun, known for her ‘team rakyat’ slogan, appeared at the Bukit Aman Police Headquarters to give a statement regarding a video she posted. In it, she referenced a report from the South China Morning Post and questioned the government’s directive to telecommunications companies to hand over user data.

Although some parties expressed discomfort with the disclosure, MCA will not shy away from standing by its principles. It is evident that certain groups are uneasy about this issue being brought to light, as demonstrated by the police report. This raises concerns that attempts are being made to suppress freedom of speech. However, this pressure will not deter MCA from its course.

In light of this, we urge the government, particularly the Ministry of Communications, to return to the right path and focus on developing the country without restricting the freedom of speech, which is guaranteed in the Federal Constitution for all Malaysians.

Datuk Ir. Lawrence Low
MCA Vice President
MCA Economic and SME Affairs Committee Chairman

19 June 2025

-MCA Comm-