Sunday Star, 14 September 2014

14 nation

thoughts on moderation
Columnists to speak with radio listeners on Malaysia Day

By BEH yuEn HuI

newsdesk@thestar.com.my
KUALA LUMPUR: Three columnists from The Star will share their
thoughts on moderation with radio
listeners this Malaysia Day.
The
forum
Moderate
Malaysians, organised by the Star
Radio Group in conjunction with
the countrys 57th Merdeka and
51st Malaysia Day, will have Dr
Azmi Sharom, Sharyn Shufiyan
and Niki Cheong talk on the countrys diversity and versatility.
It is part of The Stars Brave
Views, Bold Ideas campaign
aimed at encouraging the voices of
moderation in the country.
This is a rare occasion that we
have three phenomenal individuals in the studio, said Star Radio
Group chief operating officer
Kudsia Kahar.
The forum is an avenue for
them to share their experience

Speaking up: (From left) Sharyn, Azmi, Kudsia and Cheong in Kuala Lumpur.

and observation with our listeners

in the spirit of promoting moderate and sophisticated Malaysians,
she said.
Dr Azmi who is also Universiti
Malaya law lecturer said being a
moderate Malaysian, one should
not go to extremes when reacting
to those he or she disagreed with.

Social media amplifies this (the

ugly Malaysians) because we can
see the words as text, said
Cheong.
Spoken words are more transient and easy to forget (compared
to having people) tag you constantly on social media and
reminding you about it, he said.

Different views cant be

silenced, said Sharyn, who is a
great-granddaughter of the countrys first Prime Minister Tunku
Abdul Rahman.
To find out more, tune in to
Capital FM from 10am to noon,
and Red FM from noon to 2pm on
Tuesday.

Idris Jala: Azmi

should not
be charged
with sedition
PETALING JAYA: Minister in the
Prime Ministers Department
Datuk Seri Idris Jala has voiced his
support for lecturer Assoc Prof Dr
Azmi Sharom, who has been
charged with sedition.
Azmi should not be charged
with sedition. Academic freedom
is required in pursuit of knowledge, Idris said in a tweet yesterday.
Malaysia must continue to pursue the path of moderation.
Constructive criticism (or) dissent should be allowed, as long as
it does not create a serious faultline in the social fabric of our society, he wrote.
Dr Azmi, a Universiti Malaya
law lecturer and a columnist for
The Star, was charged on Sept 2
with sedition over comments
made on an online portal regarding the 2009 Perak crisis.
He claimed trial after being
charged under Section 4(1)(b) and
Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act.
The hearing has been fixed for
Oct 3.
Last Tuesday, the Attorney-Generals Chambers announced that it
would review several cases of individuals charged under the Sedition
Act, including that of Dr Azmi.