The Unchained Mouth

Lately after studying Constitutional Law (horrific subject i tell you!!!) i came across a topic that was surprisingly interesting. The topic i am talking about is fundamental liberties, in the Federal Constitution. These liberties vary from freedom of life, to movement, even to religion. But one that interests me the most, and perhaps the most relevant in my blog, is the one regarding freedom of speech.

Now freedom of speech is enumerated in Art. 10 of the federal constitution. It basically provides freedom of one's speech, but as with almost all 'freedoms', it comes with some restrictions, such as the prevention of talking about the special privileges of Malays and also the special position and immunity of our Malay rulers.

The issue on many people's minds is 'should there be an absolute freedom, like those in Western countries like (i damn myself for saying this) the US of A?'

Freedom of speech is an extremely powerful tool. Words alone can either win over supporters or even lose all of them. Even in the pages of history, it was learnt that Hitler himself recorded propaganda and transmitted them through speakers all over Germany all day long. Imagine speakers blaring all day repeating glorified words of a leader or patriotic phrases ordering people to stand up for one's own country. No wonder people at that time were won over. But this is just one of many instances where the power of words won over the masses. Put in the right hands the power of words can be an extremely potent force. If it falls in the wrong hands, it is almost certain that chaos would ensue.

It is with this in mind that the restrictions set out in the Article were drafted - to prevent miscreants from using such freedom to sow the seeds of discontent and chaos. This is also in line with the cheesy and perhaps even corny quote by Peter Parker's (to those who don't know who he is, SHOOT YOURSELF) uncle, Ben Parker 'With great power comes great responsibility'. And somehow in my opinion, i believe that we Malaysians aren't responsible enough yet to be given the absolute power to speak about whatever the hell we want.

You see even with such restrictions, we have various self-proclaimed anarchists thinking it is cool to bring up something controversial just for a chance to be heard. Then being glorified and dubbed as 'martyrs' to their cause when they get caught by local authorities and detained under the Internal Security Act (ISA, people..) Perhaps they suffered from an incomplete childhood, and were not given proper attention while they were adolescents. All they need is a hug from their mothers or a small kiss on the forehead. Maybe a bedtime story and a nice tucking in IN A FUCKING ASYLUM.

My stand on freedom of speech? It's rather simple. I do believe that it is still necessary and vital to maintain the existence of such laws, especially for the sake of public order and security. We do not need a modern day Karl Marx or someone or other trying to be an anarchist and rallying disillusioned people (of which plenty exist) to stand for an arbitrary cause. Need evidence? Just look at the HINDRAF fiasco not too long ago. Such foolish demands and ideals would only be followed by fools themselves. But as has been proven, plenty of such people do exist. Disillusionment brings forth discontent and the dumbing of the brain, in search of any means to gain fame or even money. Besides that, there has been so much discontent bubbling about within the non-Malay masses on the rights and privileges of Malays, that the feeling of discontent breeding about is palpable. It's akin to a balloon filled with water almost to breaking point. All it takes is for someone to supposedly 'stand up' against such laws to cause our delicate balance to come crashing down. It would be like a small prick to the abovementioned water-filled balloon. Disaster would strike. Again, it is with this in mind that the parliament implemented such restrictions. It is like the parents or guardians (the parliament) taking the pin from the fucking retard of a small kid suffering from ADD (the aggravator) who is desperately trying to prick the balloon.

But though i do believe that it is absolutely necessary considering the delicate and troubled times, especially now with the economic downturn exacerbating things further, i do also believe that it is something that should never remain static in the Constitution. Why, you may ask, am i contradicting myself? My answer to the question posed is that you must shut up and be patient while i explain.

You see, although those restrictions are necessary, they have become a sort of excuse for us Malays to become complacent; hushing down the sad truth that we have become sorely weakened by the perks that have been given to us. To paraphrase the words of Pak Lah 'if one uses crutches for too long, taking it away would require the use of wheelchairs instead'. Of course he is referring to the privileges of the Malays and how we have become too dependent on it. Yes i do agree too that taking away the privileges absolutely would make Malaysia an enlarged version of Singapore (which means i have to migrate again coz that was what i was trying to run away from). But i do believe also that over reliance of such perks would only serve to weaken us even further than those around us, who have managed to rise up without even having to resort to benefits and perks. We as Malays have to realise that the longer we rely on such perks, the more powerful other races around us become, all gearing up to usurp us from what is rightfully ours. Therefore perhaps the people who bring up such forbidden topics up are doing us an implied favour by serving us a grim reminder that if we Malays do not change and improve ourselves, we might have our own lands snatched from our very eyes, albeit in a subtle but evil kind of way. Therefore my proposal would be to reduce such perks as of now, to allow the Malays to adapt and to get back on their feet, and perhaps after they are on par or even better than the rest of the races (which may take ages) then the re-implementation of such laws can take place. Yes one may hear howls of anguish and cries of dismay, but to put it in a more logical manner, an old and injured person screams and cries out in pain initially when his cane is taken away from him, but it is done so that he will straighten himself out and adapt to the circimstances, hopefully being able to walk tall again, and then the cane can be given back to him as decoration and embellishment, much like a pimp who does not really need the cane, but is happy he has it (yes yes, lousy comparison, but i couldnt think of any other fit person who would want to use a cane. So shut up and bear with it :P). But if he then rolls up in a fetal position and throws a tantrum, pretty soon no one would care, and it would give people the chance to easily take away all his stuff while he is too busy being a lil' bitch.

Despite all of this, i do think that this law is quite draconian only for the fact that although one may not say something, one may still think about it. It may be bubbling, even festering in one's mind, but as soon as others talk about such stuff, the infection and rot will spread into the minds of others, and pretty soon an epidemic will start. So the freedom of speech is an essential law, though there are still no laws limiting the freedom of thought.:P imagine a gang of psychic hitmen law enforcers that eradicate or abduct anyone who even thinks about such restrictions. I am getting ahead of myself here, but i guess the restrictions of the freedom of speech are primarily to prevent the public broadcasting and propagating of such abhorrent ideals, for the sake of a greater good. (you may refer to my older post entitled 'united we stand, divided we fall?' for a glimpse into what i think about the machinations of a society, but with the current state of things and how society is as it is, the greater good is still essential)

So to prevent any more headache as it is, to sum it all up, i do believe that the restrictions enumerated in Art. 10 regarding the freedom of speech is essential, although i do say that it cannot be put there forever, and we Malays should not remain ignorant and complacent with regards to the status quo of things as they are, lest we would be overthrown in our own country, with history repeating itself (Singapore, anyone?) though i do know of my good friend who said that we will never learn from history and the mistakes of our brethren from the past, i do hope that this is a general rule, and that as with every general rule there will be exceptions, i.e. in this situation we are in right now.

And for a closing note, to those who think that the liberties that are claimed by people in the (damn myself again) US of A are absolute, think again (yeah fools). Though they can say whatever the hell they want, when they want and where they want to, all their phone calls are monitored by the Puppet Master. And besides, they still have something called the Patriot Act (which is something like an act we are all too familiar about). So to have less freedom and more privacy, or 'absolute freedom' and no privacy?? You decide....

*Disclaimer* the views of this blogger is enitrely his own. He has no intentions to propagate it publicly or even bring such matter up to create a fiasco. There is never any mala fide involved and no one is to publish part of or the whole of this post without prior permission, be it written or oral or other reasonable forms of communication. Upon publishing, the writer of this post shall not be liable for any controversy or hubbub that ensues from such publishing, and liability is to be wholly incurred upon the publisher for being such a fool.

Cheers,
eZz