The cabinet has directed attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail to explain the recent amendments to the Evidence Act 1950, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.
“The cabinet has said that the attorney-general is going to explain and articulate this to the public. Let it be done that way.
“I don’t want too many comments driving around and at the end of the day, people get confused about the reasons why this was done,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters on the side during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s open house in Putrajaya today, when he was asked to comment about the Evidence (Amendment) (No 2) Act 2012, which came into force on July 31.
Under Section 114A of the amended law, the owner, editor or administrator of a website on which any posting appears - or the owner of the Internet connection or equipment with which the posting was made - is presumed to be the person who made the posting, unless proven otherwise.
Critics including the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has expressed concern that the amendment reverses the presumption that a person is innocent until proven otherwise, and average citizens may lack the resources to prove their innocence.
Regardless, Hishammuddin (right) expressed confidence that once the issue is explained, “right-thinking people” would understand why the amendment was made.
“If there are any other fears they may have, the government in the past has never said ‘no’ to tweaking, tuning, amending, or even abolishing (laws) if that is what the public wants,” he said, pointing a slew of changes to legislation under Najib’s political transformation plan.
These, he said, included the abolition Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinances, plus the introduction of new security laws and the Peaceful Assembly Act.
“All those are major transformations that is trying to balance between the rights of the individual, the interests of nation, and the safety of the public as a whole,” said the Sembrong MP.
“The cabinet has said that the attorney-general is going to explain and articulate this to the public. Let it be done that way.
“I don’t want too many comments driving around and at the end of the day, people get confused about the reasons why this was done,” he said.He was speaking to reporters on the side during Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s open house in Putrajaya today, when he was asked to comment about the Evidence (Amendment) (No 2) Act 2012, which came into force on July 31.
Under Section 114A of the amended law, the owner, editor or administrator of a website on which any posting appears - or the owner of the Internet connection or equipment with which the posting was made - is presumed to be the person who made the posting, unless proven otherwise.
Critics including the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has expressed concern that the amendment reverses the presumption that a person is innocent until proven otherwise, and average citizens may lack the resources to prove their innocence.Regardless, Hishammuddin (right) expressed confidence that once the issue is explained, “right-thinking people” would understand why the amendment was made.
“If there are any other fears they may have, the government in the past has never said ‘no’ to tweaking, tuning, amending, or even abolishing (laws) if that is what the public wants,” he said, pointing a slew of changes to legislation under Najib’s political transformation plan.
These, he said, included the abolition Internal Security Act and the Emergency Ordinances, plus the introduction of new security laws and the Peaceful Assembly Act.
“All those are major transformations that is trying to balance between the rights of the individual, the interests of nation, and the safety of the public as a whole,” said the Sembrong MP.
Starry gathering
Hishammuddin is among many cabinet members welcoming guests at Najib’s open house today, where ministers have been welcoming tens of thousands of visitors at Seri Perdana since 11am.
Hishammuddin is among many cabinet members welcoming guests at Najib’s open house today, where ministers have been welcoming tens of thousands of visitors at Seri Perdana since 11am.
According to Bernama, at the event were Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and his wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman, and Information Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim.Among the dignitaries who turned up at the event were former Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad and his wife Siti Hasmah Mohd Ali, as well as Musa Hitam, a former deputy prime minister.
Among those spotted greeting Najib and other cabinet ministers were Malaysia's London Olympics silver-medallist, Lee Chong Wei and popular singer, DJ Dave.
Penang Chief Minister, Lim Guan Eng and his wife Betty Chiew and Seputeh Member of Parliament Teresa Kok, were among the opposition leaders who attended the open house.
Najib later cut a 120kg Aidilfitri and Merdeka cake at a specially set up stage in Seri Perdana, accompanied by Rosmah, Muhyiddin, Mahathir, Siti Hasmah, Rais and his wife, Masnah Rais.The prime minister also sang the Negara-Ku and 1Malaysia songs plus the Hari Raya song, 'Aidilfitri', while joining thousands of well wishers in waving the Jalur Gemilang (national flag).
The open house ended at 4pm.
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