DHAKA: Malaysia prime minister Najib Razak said his patience should not be interpreted as a weakness, and added that he believes Malaysians want more space to debate issues without fear of being arrested.

He was asked in an interview about his inaction over controversial issues that are often aired openly and whether the ‘extensive freedom’ to speak is good for the country.

His answer, ‘People will be allowed to debate issues of the day but there are laws to stop troublemakers’.

He was speaking to three senior journalists during a Bernama TV interview in conjunction with Umno’s 68th anniversary Saturday.

The interview was aired and published in local newspapers on Saturday, The Straits Times publishes this report on Sunday.

Asked about perceptions that his reticence on controversial issues shows a weak leadership, Najib said, ‘I do not regard that as a weakness. I would like to ask, do they want a situation where anyone who expresses an opinion is arrested under the (Internal Security Act)? Do we want that? Surely the majority of Malaysians do not want such a situation’.

BDST: 1854 HRS, MAY 11, 2014