PUTRAJAYA: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has hit out at former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad over claims that the government was curtailing freedom of speech.
"He (Dr Mahathir) can still speak up, no one is stopping him from doing so. He can attend any event and move freely.
"There is a big difference between now and then. In the past, newspapers were shut down and people who demonstrated (on the street) were beaten and jailed.
"That was during Tun's time, not now," the government spokesman said during his weekly post-cabinet meeting press conference.
Fahmi said the former prime minister should compare the current administration to his own administration.
Dr Mahathir had claimed that although the country is free from colonial rule, it was now facing a form of "colonisation" imposed by the government.
He had claimed the people were not free to speak out and criticise the government on various issues, including those related to race, religion and royalty (3R).
He also alleged that the 3R laws were invalid because they were enforced without requiring approval from the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, as is usually the case.