Kuala Lampur, Feb. 3 -- Where there is no law there is no freedom. So wrote John Locke in 1689.

According to the English philosopher, whose works lie at the foundation of modern philosophical empiricism and political liberalism, classical liberalism in particular, freedom "is not a liberty for every man to do what he lists", but a liberty to do as the law allows. (See John Locke, Two treatises of government, p. 234)

How true.

In Malaysia, without the Chapter on Fundamental Liberties in the Federal Constitution, there would be no freedom, or the guarantee of it.

Even so, freedom is not absolute. Lord Denning called freedom as freedom under the law.

It is the law that will curtail freedom. Accordingly, the words "under the law" must be...