MP seeks law to nix foreign funds for news portals

Lipis rep speaks of “evil agents” out to topple the government.

KUALA LUMPUR: A Barisan Nasional MP today urged the government to enact a law that would, among other things, control or prohibit foreign funding of local organisations.

Speaking to reporters at the parliament lobby, Lipis MP Mohamad Shahrum Osman said he was concerned that foreign elements were trying to topple the government, especially through online news portals.

He said the threat was so urgent that the bill should be tabled during the current session of Parliament.

“This is a serious issue that must be contained early,” he said.

“Do you want the same thing that happened in Egypt in the Arab Spring? This act can protect parliament from these evil foreign agents wearing NGO masks and pretending to fight for human rights and freedom of expression.”

Mohamad Shahrum, who is a vice-president of the Malaysian Ex-Servicemen Association, alleged that foreign elements were “continuously threatening” national security and racial unity by spreading slander through online media.

“This law can stop negative elements from infiltrating the country and poisoning the minds of the rakyat,” he said. “The act must prevent them from using the mass media, including online news portals, to realise their purposes,” he said.