Government's ban on 3R issue too general - Dr M

KUALA LUMPUR - The government has no right to stop any individual from discussing issues related to 3R (race, religion, and royalty).

Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said this is because the 3R ban imposed by the government is too general.

"Many questioned why I am angry about the ban on speaking about the 3R issues.

"No. The government does not have the right to stop it so long as it does not relate to matters of national security," he said in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

Mahathir said the 3R ban was too general, and it is not clear why or how speaking on these would pose a danger to the nation.

"If I say, 'I'm Malay, that would not be threatening national security. If I said, 'Malays are facing issues, I would be targeted as rebelling, and the police would question me.

"If stating that I'm a Muslim would go against the prime minister's orders, if I'm wrong, this means that the constitution is wrong, as it states "Islam" as Malaysia's official religion.

"Is it wrong for us to say we have a 'constitutional monarch? he questioned.

Reiterating that the ban on 3R is too general, he said some members of the public are worried they will be blamed.

"Police follow the speakers as if to arrest them. This was not healthy. People have the right to speak up about their problems.

"What was the point of elections if the public's issues were not voiced out by the public and the candidates fighting for the public? he said.

Dr Mahathir even stated what rights the prime minister has to impose such bans.

He added that our country has a Parliament and a Dewan Negara.

"There are some methods of approving laws. The prime minister is not free to make laws. The police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) are not free to baselessly act. All government movements have methods and laws that must be followed.

"What method was used by the prime minister when he suddenly took away the rights of the public and political parties to speak? "Only through ruling with an iron fist will a government be given unlimited power. Are we in that stage? "That's the question. Moreover, the perpetrator was a reformist who allegedly rejected such a ruling with an iron fist," he said.