Tribute to Ho Kay Tat and shame to Liow Tiong Lai
The publisher and Group CEO of The Edge Media Group, Ho Kay Tat put it very bluntly that when faced with evidence that what was supposed to be a joint venture that will bring economic benefits to the country turned out to be nothing more than a scheme to scam billions of ringgit from Malaysia by a small group of Malaysians and their foreign partners, the Edge Media Group had two choices:
- Drop the matter like a hot potato and walk away, or
- Get hold of everything so that the truth can be uncovered.
To their eternal credit as well as the gratitude of all decent and honest Malaysians who want to be able to hold their heads high in a country where ethical, moral and religious values are not just meant for the pulpits but are the compass of everyday living, the Edge decided to pursue the truth.
This is the time for all Malaysians, regardless of race, religion, region, gender, age or even politics, to give full support to the Edge journalists over whom hang the Sword of Damocles for their search for the truth in the 1MDB scandal and make it known to all and sundry that Malaysians will walk all the way with them in the search for the truth.
If high-handed and arbitrary actions are taken against the Edge, then it is time for Malaysians to stand up for their citizenship rights to defend the constitutional principles upon which this nation was founded.
At the same time as Malaysians pay tribute and express support and solidarity with Ho Kay Tatt and the journalists in the Edge, we must express our shame and outrage at the stand taken by Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, the MCA President and Transport Minister, in defending the government’s move to block access to the whistleblower site Sarawak Report.
Nobody advocates absolute freedoms and all media, whether printed or electronic, must act responsibly and have no right to fabricate news.
What is totally unacceptable is Liow’s rejection of the maxim that a person is innocent until proven guilty by declaring that Sarawak Report has now to clear up the issue on whether it had fabricated documents for its articles critical of 1MDB, when the onus is on 1MDB and the Government to prove the existence of fabricated documents.
Liow has tomorrow’s Cabinet meeting to undo his betrayal of the constitutional principles on which this nation’s founding fathers, Tunku Abdul Rahman, Tun Razak, Tun Tan Cheng Lock and Tun V. T. Sambanthan founded this nation in 1957, joined by Sarawak and Sabah founding fathers in the formation of Malaysia in 1963.
All journalists in the Star should dissociate themselves from the stand taken by Liow Tiong Lai, who as MCA President is also head of the Star, on the government decision to block access to Sarawak Report.
A darkness is descending on Malaysia.
This a time for all Malaysian patriots, regardless of race, religion, region, age, gender or politics to be prepared to exercise their constitutional rights to stand up and speak up for truth, justice and freedom in Malaysia.