VETERAN journalist and blogger Datuk A. Kadir Jasin claimed there were continuous attempts to muzzle freedom of expression and he has been told to keep quiet.
He said an acquaintance recently told a friend, "Tell Kadir to better keep quiet. His tone implies threat and disdain."
"He wasn't alone and certainly wasn't the first to tell me to shut up.
"Even here (on his Facebook), many contradict themselves by telling me to shut up.
"Some even called me an old man and told me to go and die. But, they continue to visit and leave comments. Thank you," he said in a post today.
The former New Straits Times group editor-in-chief said some commenters were knowledge seekers, while others were angry souls looking for space to vent their anger, and cyber-troopers writing for money.
"As for me, I don't think I can ever shut up. I know of some friends and acquaintances who make a lot of noise when they don't get what they want, but once they do, they become silent like a mouse.
"That's their choice. If some keep quiet for money, that is fine with me. Maybe their measure of freedom and dignity is having a lot of money," he said.
Kadir said those who kept quiet for money reminded him of the lyrics to the song, Private Dancer, by the late Tina Turner -
"I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money. I'll do what you want me to do. I'm your private dancer, a dancer for money. And any old music will do."
"They can go on praising their benefactors for money, but please don't threaten others who choose to forsake wealth for freedom.
"More so now when Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, differentiates himself from his peers by positioning himself as a democrat, an intellectual and a renaissance man.
"Maybe his millionaire backers can fund programmes to teach his youthful supporters to love books like him and to pen better replies to this space," he said.
At last year's Malaysian Press Night, Kadir said the prime minister spoke about the importance of reading and thinking.
"Sadly I don't see any follow-up. I did tell one of the PM's media officers seated at my table how to give the prime minister's call a kickstart by having book reading and story writing competitions all year round with financial help from his many rich backers, and for the RTM to broadcast them.
"A nation that doesn't read cannot think. A nation that doesn't think cannot speak and a nation that doesn't speak has no voice," he added. - The Vibes, January 25, 2024
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