Recent developments in Malaysia only further reinforce the suspicion among the rakyat that free flow and exchange of information and views, which is often considered as one of the vital components of democratic life, is an alien and even disturbing concept to the country's political leadership.

The government, in particular the Home Ministry, has of late been delaying the approval for the weekly sale of international publications such as Asiaweek and Far Eastern Economic Review. The apparent reason is that they had carried articles that were critical of the government.

As if to drive home the message further that critical publications supposedly have a hidden agenda that is disruptive to the country, the Home Ministry is threatening to make use of certain local laws, such as the Sedition Act, against local correspondents of these foreign publications. Yet another impediment to sources of information other than the country's controlled and compliant mainstream media.

Another disturbing development is the recently reported ban in Selangor on the sale of all so-called opposition publications in buildings and shopping complexes owned or managed by the Selangor Economic Development Corporation (SEDC). One would believe that this would also include alternative publications.

The penalty for ignoring this directive can be punitive enough especially for publishers and news vendors whose financial standing isn't that secure. A fine and a possible confiscation of the publications concerned, or both, awaits them.

Can't handle

The penalty notwithstanding, what's equally, if not more, serious is that such a political move violates a human right to a wide spectrum of views and information. It strikes at the very root of democracy.

The implications, needless to say, are far-reaching. For one thing, this ban is targeted at Malay outlets that sell printed materials critical of the government, i.e. some things that would excite the reformasi types.

That the relatively cheaper rental rates in these government-related complexes attract many of the small-time Malay business people (who are in the business of selling reading materials, etc.) may well be a cause for concern for the government as they are often patronised by the Malay crowd, especially those seeking alternative sources of information and opinions.

This political move is indicative of the inability or unwillingness of the state to appreciate the notion that a seller should have relative freedom to sell anything that's legal, which includes publications critical of the government. So why bother about such things as K-economy or E-commerce - concepts that are often associated with information and communications technology and enhanced business activities - when the authorities concerned can't even handle or tolerate the sale of critical publications in a traditional manner?

Given the recent development, one would argue that it is not even sufficient for the government to grant publishing permits to publishers. What is equally vital is the freedom of distribution and dissemination of printed materials in the society. Otherwise, the many number of titles of publications that have been given permits would only deceive us into believing that the citizenry is provided with a wide array of publications and opinions.

The ban also suggests an unabashed insistence on the part of the government, particularly the Selangor state government, that it has a monopoly over Truth and Wisdom that no one else, least of all the opposition, can or should contest. Obviously such arrogance is chilling, as it doesn't appreciate, let alone, cultivate a culture of reasoning which is essential in a democracy.

Opposition BN

Besides, this restriction imposed by the Selangor state government, if followed through to its logical conclusion, brings forth a few interesting questions.

One, would this necessarily mean that shopping complexes and other premises owned or run by private companies can allow their tenants, such as news vendors and book sellers, to sell a variety of publications without fear or favour? That is, can they sell printed materials of various political persuasions?

Two, if this directive is extended or applied elsewhere, this would necessarily mean that government buildings and shopping complexes owned or run by state governments in PAS-run Kelantan and Terengganu should not also allow publications which criticise the respective state governments?

It's worth pondering here whether such a political action would be fair and democratic for those outside of the corridors of power in these states, particularly the opposition BN.

All-time low

The Selangor ban on critical publications and other forms of intellectual hindrance also make us wonder whether the BN government as a whole is experiencing a certain political paranoia where its political hegemony is perceived, rightly or wrongly, to be under serious attack from various directions and quarters in the society.

Often legitimate criticisms and dissent are made out to be by the authorities concerned a conspiracy of sorts to destabilise the government and the society as a whole that would eventually, so goes the assertion, scare the treasured foreign investors and disrupt national unity in this multiethnic country.

Placing obstacles to free flow of information could very well lead to the spawning of rumour mills especially when the credibility of the 'authorised' suppliers of news and information (i.e. the mainstream media) is by and large at an all-time low.

It doesn't augur well for a country that aspires to be in the forefront of information and communication technology to encourage in various ways rumour mongering. Furthermore, a culture of secrecy and deliberate obstruction by the state to free flow of information aren't exactly the ingredients that can win the confidence of the rakyat as well as the coveted foreign investors.