The Right Thing

I was listening to the radio today, debating whether is our exPM qualified to keynote address the participants at a Human Rights event held here in Malaysia.

The funny thing was, when human rights groups in Malaysia protested against his presence at the event, our exPM asked if his rights was obstructed.

He is a smart man, the doctor.

He has the right to do that all right, Freedom of Speech is one right we cherished. Moreover, he is more than qualified to speak there, being qualified means you have studied, or learn something about a subject and excelled in it, the Man is more than qualified.

Some said the people who were oppressed are more qualified, but what makes a man who sat in jail more qualified than the man who put them in jail in the very first place?

Yes, he is smart, and he is indeed qualified.

Perhaps, the radio show asked the wrong question: While he is qualified, and had the right to voice his mind, is it the Right Thing to do? Putting him on a platform that addresses the human rights issue of the country?

I'll let you be the judge of that.

This is what the good Doctor told the press.

This is what Kit has to say in his blog.

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Malaysian Human Rights Day 2005 Conference: Human Rights and Globalisation
Date: 9 Sep 2005
Venue: Le Meridien, Kuala Lumpur
Group/Division: General

Objective:
To analyse the impact of globalisation on human rights in Malaysia in order to:

i) Promote understanding of the positive and negative consequences of globalisation;

ii) Seek appropriate responses to globalisation.

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