Freedom of expression?

There was a lot of outrage when the Home Ministry under the previous Minister temporarily suspended the publication and circulation of Harakah and Suara KeAdilan for abusing certain things.

In the first place, all of us know that these two papers are opposition based papers and will definately espouse opposition views. I have read these papers before and nothing that the Government does, although correct and beneficial to the Rakyat will be accepted positively and wholeheartedly by these two papers.

I know that the opposition leaders were harping about feeedom of press to print what they want, that the Government was wrong to suspend temporarily and this it infringed the basic human right to expression and freedom of speech. I also know that many were taken in by these accusations and also condemned the Government for doing so.

It was very nice to hear the opposition leaders giving talks and ceramahs, condemning the Federal Government on the suspension, harping on freedom of speech and expression and on wanting to selflessly fight to ensure that 'no newspaper should be afraid or punished for its writings'.

But can I suggest that the same be applied to the opposition? I doubt many know that YAB Lim Guan Eng, the Chief Minister of Penang, had banned New Straits Times and Utusan Malaysia from covering any of his functions and press conferences due to so-called unfair reporting. And that ban, as far as I know, is still in place even now

At least, the Federal Government has lifted its suspension on Harakah and Suara KeAdilan. When will YAB Lim Guan Eng lift his ban on NST and Utusan and again allow for freedom of speech, expression and that 'these newspapers should not be afraid or punished for its writing'?

What applies to the Federal Government must also apply to the opposition. Can't have two separate codes of ethics for the same thing.