COMMENT | Hadi's words breach limits of free speech

COMMENT | If you or I had uttered those words or caused them to be published, a police party would jump over the gate in the wee hours of the morning and arrest us as they did to fellow journalist, Sidek Kamiso in September 2016.

To recap, his tweet saying adios (goodbye in Spanish) on the death of PAS spiritual leader Harun Din was deemed criminally offensive.

The inspector-general at that time said the case was being investigated under Section 298 of the Penal Code for causing disharmony, disunity or feelings of enmity, hatred, or ill will, or prejudicing the maintenance of harmony on grounds of religion.

Besides, the all-compassing Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act which criminalises offensive content also came into play.

I had argued that a statement made by an individual and its truthfulness is no business of the police or any other law enforcement authority, unless it breaches the country’s laws...