Shahidan questions PH on freedom of speech after TikTok account blocked

Arau MP Shahidan Kassim today questioned Pakatan Harapan's (PH) stand on freedom of speech, claiming that his TikTok account had been blocked while he was speaking in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday. 

He said his account was blocked for about 10 minutes even though he had not spoken on any sensitive topics and was in fact praising the government. 

"I should not be blocked because I was speaking in Parliament," he said in the Dewan Rakyat. 

"My rights have been denied, and by TikTok as well because the government had held discussions with TikTok.

"I did not mention the royal institution, religion or race. If we talk about any of these things, there is no immunity in Parliament. But in all other matters, we are free to speak.

"Why do things this way? Why target those who are speaking about the people's problems, the Employees Provident Fund, or the rising cost of living?"

Shahidan also said that the freedom of speech had been one of the issues long championed by PH. 

"They referred to Article 10 (1)(a) of the constitution which states that every Malaysian has the freedom of expression. 

"They fought to the end on this issue. But after they became part of the government, the first thing they did was to hold discussions with social media platforms," he said. 

Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching, in her response, denied that the government had been involved in blocking Shahidan's TikTok account.