Another skewed view on Freedom of Expression in Malaysia

I thought of writing little today after reading an article I read in the Star Online (Malaysia) today which I will reproduce below (not in full as the later part of the article is on other inconsequential matters). I played badminton yesterday and badly injured my arm and shoulder and it's not helping my typing either, so this article may have to be a short one. Anyway here is part of the news story:

Raja Nazrin raises concern over publication of malicious books
KUALA LUMPUR: Raja Muda of Perak Raja Dr Nazrin Shah is concerned over the trend of political books vilifying certain individuals. He noted that these books were published on a seasonal basis and were closely linked to the activities of certain political organisations in the country.

“This trend, if allowed to grow, will create writings that nurture a slanderous culture, and unethical writings that tended to ignore the facts,” he said.
“Such texts will have a negative influence on the development of the mind.
“Such writings, for the profit of narrow-minded individuals and groups, will cause long-term loss to the race.”
Raja Nazrin was speaking at the launch yesterday of the book Keberanian Menggapai Harapan a Bahasa Malaysia translation of The Audacity of Hope by US President Barack Obama

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I can't help but sense that there is a political tone to his words although just a few days ago, his father, the Sultan of Perak was the same Sultan who criticised people who criticised the monarchy and boldly stated that the monarchy was above politics.

More importantly, we have to ask how the Raja Muda knows that the books are slanderous? Has he got any evidence that it is? Slander should be resolved in the courts. The avenue is there, so take it. While the books are not established as fact, neither have they been proven to be slanderous, so the Raja Muda has no credence to say so. With all due respect to the Raja Muda, this is what we call freedom of expression, maybe something new to the Malaysian establishment which still have draconian laws like the Sedition Act, Internal Security Act, the Official Secrets Act and the Publicationas Act, all designed to unfairly prosecute people who express their anti-establishment views. So maybe this Raja Muda should heed his own father's words and stay out of politics as he's making himself look silly.