Former New Straits Times Press group editor-in-chief A Kadir Jasin said Malaysia was not a nation that practiced dictatorship, unlike China or North Korea where leaders are worshipped like gods and could not be criticised.
Kadir, who is a PPBM supreme council member, said if the delegate in question was convinced that Najib was indeed insulted, he could take civil action.
“And even then, it is only if The Malaysian Insight refuses to give Najib the right of reply,” he told FMT.
Earlier today, Tasek Gelugor Umno division youth chief Nashrol Hisham Abdullah urged the government to investigate TMI for allegedly insulting the country’s leaders in its recent news reports.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak later said the ministry will take necessary action against news portals accused of insulting the country’s leaders, especially if they had broken the law.
“We have received reports regarding the allegations against TMI. We will investigate and submit a report to the relevant authorities for further action,” he said.
Commenting further on the issue, Kadir said that criticising anyone, especially politicians was not a crime.
“Maybe Umno is now emulating a Communist party.”
Meanwhile, former Utusan Melayu group editor-in-chief Zainuddin Maidin said the Penang Umno delegate’s proposal was “not smart”.
The former information minister said the general assembly was also not the right forum to address the matter.