Malaysiakini CEO: MCMC still has role to play, but not as political tool

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has a role to play but not as the political tool it was once used as, said Malaysiakini CEO Premesh Chandran.

This was among the concerns brought up during his meeting with the Institutional Reforms Committee (IRC) today.

Talking to the press afterwards, Premesh said he hoped the IRC would look into reforming the MCMC to better regulate the online space, and to create an environment where responsible reporting was rewarded.

“I think the MCMC was created in response to a growing (online) media environment and technology. In fact, these sectors will only grow with time.  

“So obviously, there is a role for some sort of regulatory environment that actually rewards responsible, fair and accurate media.

“But at the moment, the MCMC seems to have become more of a political tool under the previous government. (Like the) restrictions they did on The Malaysian Insider (TMI) a few years back and the block on Malaysiakini on election night.

“That, we definitely need to change...we would like them (the IRC) to look at that,” he said at Menara Ilham in Kuala Lumpur where the meeting was held.

On the night of May 9, MCMC ordered at least 11 internet service providers (ISPs) to block three election results websites run by Malaysiakini.

MCMC later explained it had done so in the interest of “public order”, citing Section 263(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.  

The agency also said that the three sites had allegedly violated Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA), which concerns the misuse of network facilities. TMI had been blocked in 2016 on the same grounds.

Premesh thus urged the IRC to consider changing restrictive media laws like the CMA.  

“We would like them to look at that (the CMA) and other restrictive media laws, to create a more vibrant and independent media environment,” he added.

Better representation in MCMC

Meanwhile, The Malaysian Insight founder Jahabar Sadiq also met with the IRC today and proposed the MCMC be reformed to enable better representation.

“I proposed better representation at the MCMC commissioners' level…(with commissioners) from civil society, the public and news media.

“And a possible grant system to fund those preserving Malaysian culture.

“(There is) no great effort to preserve it online, (culture like the) Mak Yong, Wayang Kulit, Lion Dance and the Sumazau dance,” he said when contacted.

Jahabar elaborated that the grant system should be funded by MCMC’s Universal Service Provision (USP) initiative, which was set up to enable internet access to rural communities.

The IRC is made up of retired Court of Appeal judge KC Vohrah, Human Rights Commission (Suhakam) commissioner Mah Weng Kwai, lawyer and National Human Rights Society (Hakam) president Ambiga Sreenevasan, Universiti Malaya law professor Shad Saleem Faruqi as well as Persatuan Patriot Kebangsaan president and retired brigadier general Mohd Arshad Raji. -Mkini