Gobind: MCMC Act may be amended

The government is looking to amend the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA 1998), said the Communications and Multimedia Minister Gobind Singh Deo today.

"It is an act which is very broad in nature, it regulates various sectors. We are looking at amending certain parts to it, but there are other things that we have to consider so there may be amendments relating to investigations and regulations.

"Some provisions will be removed, (and) we will bring in (some new provisions),” he said when asked during a press conference in Shah Alam.

He had earlier launched Pos Malaysia’s newly expanded Integrated Processing Centre.

Pledge 27 of Pakatan Harapan’s 14th general election manifesto had promised to abolish draconian provisions of the CMA 1998.

Ministry studying media ownership

Gobind also said that his ministry was studying ways to regulate political ownership of media outlets – both print and digital.

"There are two or three views that have been put forward – some of them speak about controlling companies which control certain newspapers, some speak of controlling licences, some talk about how you can allow shareholding but not in a way to control the news agency," he said.

Suggestions will be made to the cabinet once the mechanisms have been fine-tuned, he added.

When pressed for his personal view on the matter, the DAP Puchong MP maintained he was against political parties owning media outlets.

"I have earlier taken a position that political parties should not control any of the media portals or newspapers. My position remains," he answered.

Political ownership of the media is rife in Malaysia – Umno owns Utusan Malaysia and Media Prima (which groups multiple TV, radio stations and print titles) while MCA is the largest shareholder of English-language daily The Star.

‘Outdated’ Sedition Act should go

Meanwhile, Gobind also offered his opinion that other restrictive laws like the Sedition Act 1948 should be abolished – as per Harapan’s election manifesto.

“My personal view is that we have said very clearly in the manifesto that one of the acts we are looking into very seriously is the Sedition Act 1947.

"I have (previously) said that this is an act which is outdated, and in my mind, should be repealed as soon as possible," he said.

However, he said such issues were now under the purview of de facto law minister VK Liew.

"He (Liew) is also looking into areas involving the Anti-Fake News Act 2018 and also a Freedom of Information bill which has been suggested," Gobind added. -Mkini