KUALA LUMPUR: Former law minister Datuk Zaid Ibrahim says the government shouldn't compare today's state of freedom to that of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's era.

He argued that the government should focus on present-day issues instead of looking back at leadership from two decades ago.

"Why the obsession with Dr M?" Zaid questioned in a post on X, saying that other former leaders like Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, or international figures such as Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi would be more relevant comparisons.

Zaid added that if comparisons must be made, they should focus on contemporary leaders who "have transformed," rather than dwelling on past administrations.

"According to Fahmi (Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil), you can't compare the state of freedom under Dr M with the present Madani government," he said.

"Yes, it is different in many ways. When Dr M curbed freedom of speech, he often had valid reasons. In contrast, the current government seems more concerned with maintaining its image and struggles to handle criticism."

Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil responded to former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's claims that the current government was restricting freedom of speech.

"He (Dr Mahathir) can still speak freely, attend events, and move without restriction," Fahmi said during his weekly post-cabinet press conference.

"There is a big difference between now and then. In the past, newspapers were shut down, and protesters were beaten and jailed. That was during Tun's time, not now."

https://www.nst.com.my/news/politics/2024/09/1101156/freedom-speech-focus-present-not-past-zaid-tells-govt