Jasa DG: 114A needed to curb neo-liberalism

The Information, Communications and Culture Ministry’s Special Affairs Department (Jasa) has argued that the introduction of Section 114A into the Evidence Act 1950 is necessary to combat the spread of neo-liberalism which is eroding local values.

“(Neo-liberalism), if not contained will threaten our cultural mores,” warned Jasa director-general Fuad Hassan at a Jasa forum to discuss the controversial amendment in Kuala Lumpur today.

The Jasa head described neo-liberalism as unrestrained freedom based on the Western mould that clashes with our local values, in a country where even the constitution imposes legislative limits freedoms.

He claimed that “the smuggling” of neo-liberalism into our country through media like the Internet, is “an assault” as foreign values “battle against our minds” and local mores.

The spread of such unrestrained “human rights” under “the guise of freedom”, contended Fuad, hides dangers.

These included unrestrained freedom of expression that may lead to slander and sedition, which he said Section 114A is geared to help combat.

“The amendment will ensure that such unreasonable activity can be controlled”.

The Evidence Act amendment allows authorities to use the assumption of fact that anyone featured on a webpage, or owns the device or connection used to publish seditious materials, is automatically considered to be the publisher of the information and actionable under law for any offences alleged, unless they can prove otherwise.

Opposition leaders and netizens have lambasted the amendment as an affront to freedom of expression and a means to control the Internet, as well curtailing personal freedoms and going against the legal principle that one is presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The government, however, has defended the move as necessary for it to beef up enforcement against the elusive perpetrators of online slander and those who post seditious materials.