Media statement by Lim Guan Eng in DAP Headquarters, Petaling Jaya on Thursday, 2^nd September 2010: 

DAP is appalled with Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) decision to prosecute a blogger for a satirical blog post 

The government's action to charge Irwan Abdul Rahman, known as blogger "Hassan Skodeng", in court for his satirical writing is not only harsh but ridiculous. Does this mean a satire or a joke is now illegal in Malaysia? What has become of our country?

Have we forgotten about our great satirist Ishak Haji Muhammad, better known as Pak Sako, whose great works such as "Putera Gunung Tahan" and "Anak Mat Lela Gila" had managed to rile up the spirit of nationalism among the Malays and Malayans against the British colonial masters during the fight for Independence?

It was the great satirist Jonathan Swift who said that "satire is a sort of glass, wherein beholders do generally discover everybody's face but their own".

At this moment, I believe a little bit of joke can brighten up our gloomy life and it shouldn't be taken seriously. As someone has said it, the world always looks brighter from behind a smile.

I don't understand why MCMC is wasting its energy and focus on this trivial matter. It should instead spend more time in bringing culprits of racism to justice. The problems of racism should be MCMC's number one priority.

We are still celebrating our Merdeka and yet we still hear those who are acting against the spirit of the 1957 Federal Constitution with their racist and extreme remarks. We must never allow racism to become part and parcel of our society.

We must also continue to fight for press freedom and freedom of expression. We are no longer living in fear of the Cold War and the threat of communism. We are living in the 21st century and we must respect freedom, democracy and human rights.

I implore those in power to reconsider their decision to prosecute a citizen for merely sharing with us his creative wit to brighten up our life a bit in these gloomy times.

*Lim Guan Eng, DAP Secretary General & Penang Chief Minister