The proposal to require online news portals to register with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is still in the works.
Communications and Multimedia Deputy Minister Jailani Johari, however, confirmed that the ministry has indeed engaged with all the relevant stakeholders in the matter.
"For registering online (portals) we cannot solely follow what the Singapore government has done.
"We have our own approach. At the moment we have a few existing laws which we believe are sufficient for us to take any action," he said in a press conference at the ministry in Putrajaya today.
Due to the advent of the internet and the fast-changing technology, Jailani explained that the ministry is trying to create awareness.
"So it's up to us, at least, to have our own self-regulation," he added.
Jailani, however, confirmed that a deadline has yet been set for the registration of online portals.
"Not yet, please be patient," he said.
The proposal to register online portals was first announced by Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak in August.
Salleh (photo) had said that the idea was to make news portals in the country more responsible and enable the MCMC to determine the volume of visitors to such portals.
He had confirmed that matter was in the final stage of discussion before being presented to the Attorney-General’s Chambers by the end of the year.
Upon registration, all news portals will be subject to the laws of the Communications and Multimedia Act which will facilitate control and monitoring by the MCMC.
Meanwhile, asked on the probe into news portal The Malaysian Insight, Jailani merely confirmed that the investigation was ongoing.
"Since we are still looking into it, we will keep you informed," he said when asked under which provision was the portal being probed.- mkini
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