Now the Energy, Water and Communication Minister Lim Keng Yaik is back from overseas, only to find out the letter written by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) chairman Halim Shafie after reading it on newspapers and learning of the motion to debate on it in Parliament, in which the motion was rejected by Parliament Speaker Ramli Ngah Talib.

Last week, in his letter sent to several private TV stations, Halim instructed TV stations to stop airing speeches by Opposition Leaders.

According to a report by The Star, Keng Yaik said he wrote the letter to MCMC and ordered to immediately withdraw its letter barring private broadcasting stations from airing the opposition’s speeches with immediate effect.

"It is not our policy to ask them to write a letter to ask the broadcast stations to stop airing opposition’s speeches." […]

"The first thing I did was to investigate what happened. Whatever the reason, MCMC should not have issued the letter as it is not in line with our policy,"

Not good enough, Keng Yaik. The withdrawal letter might be effective immediately, however it’s only a symbolic approach of to be seen as doing the right thing.

However, being seen as doing the right thing is not good enough, especially when all private stations in Malaysia are closely linked to Umno and they might not comply voluntarily.

Even after the MCMC directive has been removed, there’s no guarantee that the private TV stations — all owned by parties closely linked to Umno — will voluntarily comply.

The law is law, and Dr Halim has wrongly taken it in his own hands and acted contrary to the basic expectation of good governance. He violated the provisions of Act 589, and he violated the very policy set forth by the government he served. His service as a guardian of the communications and multimedia laws of the country is no longer tenable. He has to go.

Do us a favour, and for the sake of Malaysia, remove that piece of dead wood and spare us further international embarrassment.

Interestingly, it’s the taxpayers money that are being spent to feed people like the MCMC chairman Halim Shafie.

Even with you knowing the fact too, it’s unfortunate that you can’t cease your tax payment, where it seems to be an annual exercise either to make sure Halim doesn’t perform his tasks or performs his tasks in a poor manner?

Let’s do the right thing, Keng Yaik.

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