The dilemma currently faced by Hata Wahari, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) president, is one that deserves the support of all caring, straight-thinking and patriotic Malaysians -- employees as well as employers.
 
Why? Because this is not about politics but the very sanctity of humanity.
 
Utusan Malaysia’s action on Hata has not gone down well on the members of NUJ and it is clearly understandable. After all the NUJ president was only speaking out as a responsible, right-thinking leader of the union and concerned citizen of the country spelling out clearly the very fears Malaysians had been voicing for some time.
 
A free press must also be responsible; and a responsible press must always uphold the truth -- even if it hurts.
 
And if it also true that he has been placed under ‘confinement’ by his employer Utusan (or what widely understood as restricted movement arising from the ‘house arrest’), it is far too serious a crime. [CPI note: The letter of suspension to Hata from Utusan “also curiously states that Hata is not allowed to “leave his neighbourhood??? and would have to be in areas that are reachable by the company “at all times???].

Citizens should not let this alone.
 
This case is not just an NUJ problem. It is a problem that all unions should draw parallels with. And this concern is not a Malay problem; it affects all Malaysians.
 
In a nutshell, it is about the legitimate right to report fairly, truthfully and without any self-serving agenda that betrays the very fundamentals of freedom and democracy.
 
If press freedom is dead or even manipulated, democracy ends. If the mighty press is used to favour an agenda that riles and divides man against man, it is treason of the highest order as a nation of people becomes enslaved.
 
Hence, all loyal, caring, and concerned Malaysians and all legitimate bodies, including associations and NGOs must stand up in unision to convey the nation’s determination to ensure and guarantee press freedom and true democracy.
 
Even it means that all journalists from all the media (print and electronic including Internet media) will have to stage a work-to-rule, let it be. If we really want to preserve the nation from the exploits of race-religion divisiveness and corrupt, power-grabbing elements, then let Hata’s dilemma be the final straw that broke the camel’s back.
 
Otherwise, we might as well shut up for good and toe the line till kingdom come.


* A page has been created in Facebook called ‘We Support Hata Wahari for Malaysian Press Freedom’.