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Dr M: Respect rights of majority PDF Print E-mail
Friday, 11 November 2011 09:04am
©The New Straits Times (Used by permission)

SERDANG Former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said that the rights of the majority needed to be prioritised over the demands by the minority.

Speaking at a Che Det book launch here, he said the minority groups should respect the majority and society as  a whole.  He said too much freedom for the minority could infringe the freedom and rights of the majority.

Dr Mahathir  said that in a civilised society,  people should not follow their  emotion and demand that freedom be given.

"Because their freedom could deny other people their freedom. It can actually curb the freedom of the majority," he said during a lecture on culture and civilisation.

He added that personal liberties were only championed in the Western world because the interest of the majority was not prioritised.

"In the East, it is considered civilised to defend the rights of the majority but in the West, the minority rights should be defended, no matter what. Otherwise, this will lead to chaos."

Dr Mahathir also said championing personal liberties were being used by certain people "because they can't influence the power".

He said in a democracy, power lies with the majority, and the minority group or individuals felt "upset" that the government set up by the majority was not on their side.

Any civilised society should be aware that freedom should come with limitations, he said.

Although he was not referring to anyone in particular, his statements came in the wake of the controversial Seksualiti Merdeka, a festival aimed to create awareness on the rights of minority such as the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transsexual (LGBT) community.

The event was subsequently banned by the police.
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