Establish regulatory body to ensure free speech not stifled, govt told

 

The recent amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 were aimed at curbing online crimes such as paedophilia, scams and gambling.

PETALING JAYA: 

An academic has called for the establishment of a regulatory body to ensure that the updated Communications and Multimedia Act, which came into effect last month, will not stifle free speech.

Tawfik Yaakub of Universiti Malaya suggested that such a body be made up of academics and lawyers who would be able to advise on matters related to the abuse of free speech, such as spreading hateful rhetoric.

“This approach (of setting up a regulatory body), would be able to counter accusations that the recent amendments to the law stifled free speech,” he told FMT.

Tawfik said such a body would complement Parliamentary committees, such as the special select committee on human rights, elections and institutional reform which was also set up to safeguard free speech.

Apart from establishing a regulatory body, Tawfik said there was a need for stricter monitoring to reflect the government’s seriousness in tackling cybercrime – the focus of the amendments to the said law.

Last month, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (Act 588) were aimed at curbing online crimes such as paedophilia, scams and gambling.

As of Feb 11, stricter penalties have been enforced for several offences, while certain acts previously classified as offensive are now specifically defined as “grossly offensive” making them more precise and less broad than before.

In December, Fahmi said the amendments were not aimed at curtailing freedom of speech, as claimed by the opposition.
Meanwhile, Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Centre for Media and Information Warfare Studies’ psychological operations fellow Noor Nirwandy Mat Noordin also dismissed such claims.

He said the recent amendments were the best way to deal with cybercrimes and the abuse of free speech.

“The amendments will bring about some balance between the social media platforms, consumers and internet providers as well as protect the vulnerable groups from cybercrimes, including content related to sexual abuse of children and digital exploitation.”

The amended law, he said, was vital to help provide for an ethical social media ecosystem and safeguard the country’s unity. - FMT