Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today defended the Malaysian government’s track record at upholding free speech and democracy.

His writing, published on his blog najibrazak.com, carried a scathing tone meant to rebut the numerous articles published by various American press ahead of his meeting with President Donald Trump this week.

The blog post writing also took a not-so-veiled attack on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s track record during the latter’s administration.

In defending his track record of upholding democracy, Najib wrote that “we repealed the Internal Security Act and ended the State of Emergency that had existed for over 60 years… we increased media freedom by scrapping restrictions on newspaper publishing licenses… we reformed the Universities Act to allow undergraduates to participate in political activities… we passed the Peaceful Assembly Act and enshrining in law the right to peaceful protest.”

He accused the opposition parties as trying to besmirch the nation's reputation overseas. He wrote “they (the opposition) and their allies have sought to blacken Malaysia’s name in American media, making a series of wild claims culminating in the false claim that Malaysia is in danger of sliding into dictatorship”.

Najib’s writing repeatedly showed examples of how free speech is very much alive and well in the nation. He cited numerous examples of the fact that critics can continue to speak freely, and as they wish, to various press and media organisations, even if it is at the expense of his administration or the nation.

Najib will meet Trump at the White House in Washington on September 12. Read his full article here.