PUTRAJAYA: Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil today criticised former Bersih leader Datuk Dr Ambiga Sreenevasan for calling Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's administration as the "most dictatorial government".
He said the statement was 'hyperbolic' and out of touch with reality.
"This government has neither conducted Op Lalang (mass arrests) nor has it taken action against demonstrators.
"In fact, there was a group of demonstrants held at a protest at the Prime Minister's Parliamentary Community Service Centre in Tambun.
"However, they were not greeted by tear gas and batons. Instead they were given bread and water," he said here.
Ambiga had said the unity government could be crowned as the "most dictatorial government" after the government announced that social media and Internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users in the country must apply for a licence.
She had said that she never imagined a Pakatan Harapan-led government would break its promises of reforming laws, including the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
Meanwhile, Fahmi added that Ambiga had the right to voice her opinion on the issue, but her criticism was misguided and not reflective of the current context.
"I do not agree with her opinion. Her statement is hyperbolic.
"So I invite her to re-examine history, including the Bersih rallies she led and how those protesters were treated. Those conditions no longer exist."
He said Ambiga had targeted the wrong leaders and suggested her criticism should be directed at past leaders.
Regarding Bersih's criticism, he said the group did not attend engagement sessions held in June and July about licensing for social media and Internet messaging services, despite being invited.
"Organisations like the Bar Council and others were invited. Of the 79 invited, only 27 attended.
"This demonstrates that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission and the government are open to receiving feedback and criticism.
"We need to balance the need for the public to express their views with the right to use the Internet safely."