Press freedom has its limits, says PM
February 11, 2006
The Star

KUALA LUMPUR: Denmark should understand the need to limit press freedom after seeing the anger that was unleashed following the publication of caricatures that offended Muslims worldwide, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said. 

“I hope he (Danish Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen) will begin to understand that the exercise of press freedom has its limitations,” the Prime Minister said, responding to a question at a press conference here on whether Rasmussen should apologise for the publication of the caricatures in a Danish newspaper.  

Rasmussen had been maintaining the stand that he should not be apologising for what the newspaper did because of the principle of press freedom. 

“The Danish government thinks it is not responsible and their Prime Minister spoke of the freedom of the press and non-interference,” Abdullah said after opening the Tun Hussein Onn Memorial here yesterday.  

“He should realise the consequences of the caricatures being published after seeing what had happened.  

“You cannot just do anything you want and then talk about freedom of the press.  

“If everybody wants to act according to his rights, without limitation, no one will have any freedom at all.”  

He added that people had to act within the law so that everyone could live in peace and have the chance to make a living. 

On the suspension of the Sarawak Tribune, Abdullah said the decision of its publisher Sarawak Press Sdn Bhd not to renew its licence in August even if its suspension was lifted showed that it deeply regretted printing the caricatures. 

He said the newspaper had decided to take this step without any directive from the Government. 

“I am satisfied to hear this,” he said. 

Commenting on the demonstration in front of the Danish Embassy earlier yesterday, Abdullah said the protesters should have included a demand in their memorandum for the Danish government to apologise to all Muslims. 

“Why didn't they include that? It would have been more direct,” he said. 

It was reported that the memorandum, which was handed to deputy head of mission Steen Hommel, did not include that demand. 

Source: http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/2/11/nation/13366456&sec=nation