Mustapha Ong's philosophy that "freedom of speech is a qualified and not absolute right, and depends greatly on what was said, to whom and in what context" espoused in his letter No apologies for defending Dr M's way, is an expression with which many a tyrant will find great comfort.

In that sentence he dispatches democracy to its grave way before its time. That is not to say that democracy as practised in the West (where democracy is practised) is absolute. There are many restrictions on democracy which practice, reality and circumstances inevitably impose.

However, such restrictions should be subject to democratic ideals that ought to be in absolute terms, so that practice may aspire to it. If theoretical democratic ideals are themselves made subject to restrictions like the one Mustapha and many dictators (including some really clever ones in this region) would like to place, practical democracy gets chopped off at its knees even before it has a chance to see daylight.

Those who know of Mustapha and his role during ex-deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's trial know that his credentials to discuss democracy are limited to say the least. Yet, even he ought to be heard. If that is so, then John R Malott — a great friend of Malaysia and Malaysians (which need not necessarily include the Malaysian government) — should be provided with every opportunity, facility and platform to say his piece, which, in turn, ought to be scrutinised and tested rigidly. Something he shirks not from, I venture to guess?

Mustapha would do Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his government greater justice by praising and defending him when he deserves praise and defence, but also criticising him when he deserves to be criticised. That is the essence of true democracy.

Only the blind — and I dare say that Malott will agree — will say that Mahathir is not entitled to praise, even if he is also deserving of as much (if not more) criticism.