Look, who is less liberal?
The New Sunday Times runs a frontpage interview with Nazri Abdul Aziz, Minister in the Prime Minister Deparrtment who is also Parliamentary Caucus on Human Rights.
There are three strings of Q&A that sounds like an unsigned cheque that's not bankable.
The issuing of a newspaper's printing and publishing licence comes under the Internal Security Ministry, of which Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi is its minister.
Excerpts:
Q: Do you think we should give out more printing permits?
A: Yes, I think we should be more liberal. If there are private groups which want to set up newspapers, then we should allow them.
In the past, we were cautious in giving out permits because we were fighting Communism and we were afraid of people promoting Communist beliefs.
Q: But there are instances such as the case of a well-known website that has been waiting for five years for a printing permit.
A: I do not know about that, but if I were in such a position I would allow it.
Q: So you are saying that if you were the Internal Security Minister, you would be more liberal in issuing permits?
A: Yes, as I said just now, I would be more liberal.
Comments
The true liberal would be one that dispense with the need to apply for a permit and to renew the permit on an annual basis. Some establishments selling hampers are well patronised by clientele that ask for hampers to be delivered every year to personnel who work to ensure applications for renewal are not lost along the way. It is good for the retail sector of the Malaysian economy so some people can be more liberal than usual in order to pump the economic link to Bursa Malaysia.
Posted by: dtsv![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 12, 2006 09:58 PM
Liberalism is a state of mind, not counted by how many permits one issues. Sorry, I think the dear Minister doesn't fully grasp what "liberalism" entails.
Posted by: hann![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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February 13, 2006 09:14 PM