Fight for free speech in Malaysia

Commentary
By POH SI TENG
Published in theCICAK. An edited version of this article also appeared in The Star (Malaysia). Notice what they gutted.

Now that you’ve graduated, are you going home? Will you do journalism in Malaysia?

These two questions crept up several times during graduation week in May. And every time someone asked, I felt like pulling my hair out.

My mother, filled with anxiety about which non-conventional or radical path I would choose, wanted to know. My professors at San Francisco State University and journalism mentors, who taught me to seek truth, do no harm and protect my sources at all costs, wanted to know.

I wanted to know.

But there was no easy answer because while I loved Malaysia very much, I also loved the freedom and opportunities in the United States.

When Americans ask why I came to the “Land of the Free” (which really isn’t free at all), I always say it was for the First Amendment in the U.S. Constitution, which guards and enshrines free speech and expression.

They always smile when I say that. And if I’m up for a debate, I’ll respond, “If you love your freedom, be aware of the free speech cases before the U.S. Supreme Court and bills before legislators. Because if you don’t take notice, you might just lose all the freedom that you hold so dear.”

All Malaysian journalists know it’s no fun having Big Brother tell you what you can and cannot report.

While in the United States, I managed to write about a pastor who preached to gang members in Columbus, Ohio, and Ecstasy culture among hip-hoppers in the San Francisco Bay Area. I also had the opportunity to document a speed addict who used acupuncture to treat his addiction, and two lesbians who connected with each other and their country roots at a gay rodeo.

Would it be possible to cover similar stories in Malaysia?

There is a big possibility that they will never see the light of day in local mainstream media. But not to worry as such “controversial” issues will find a comfortable home frequented by many visitors in cyberspace.

And so in June 2005, my friend Ng Khai Lee and I founded theCICAK, a political and pop culture magazine. It is staffed by passionate and driven young Malaysians who want a more democratic, transparent and inclusive country. There is nothing too controversial for theCICAK and we would like to keep it this way.

We now have a space that we can call our own. And a growing network of journalists, social entrepreneurs, web programmers, economists and law students who are willing to work together for a collective benefit – a better Malaysia. These aren’t folks who only rant and go rah, rah, rah. They are young Malaysians who walk the talk and make a difference, either through their line of work or through side-projects such as creating opportunities for local musicians, selling T-shirts for non-profit organizations and pressing their peers to register to vote.

In addition, these young leaders write solid opinion-editorials about gerrymandering, homosexuality, religious freedom, racial equality and all things supposedly too sensitive them. They are not easily fooled and not readily belittled.

Malaysia is changing very fast. It’s heading 130 kilometers down the highway, with the speed our generation is going. We may not have freedom of speech set in our constitution. Not just yet. But you can sure bet that we will fight to the end so that it becomes a reality for our children.

It’s an exciting time to be Malaysian. And I really want to come home. But I can’t just yet, due to commitments and promises made abroad. But it’s OK because one thing is for sure – I’ll never stop being Malaysian. Not now, not ever.

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NRR member station KQED did a story about theCICAK on May 3. Listen to it here.