Paulsen no longer member of ministry's consultative council

Human rights lawyer Eric Paulsen is no longer a member of the Communications and Multimedia Ministry’s consultative council.

In a statement from the ministry, it said the decision would not affect the function of the council, which was formed on June 9. 

“The ministry informs that lawyer Eric Paulsen (above) is no longer a member of the Communications and Multimedia Consultative Council.

“[...] (The council) will continue in its role to discuss and advise the ministry on approaches and policies pertaining to communications and multimedia, in line with the ministry’s goals,” the statement read.

However, it is not yet clear if Paulsen was dropped or he quit following protests over his appointment. 

When contacted by Malaysiakini, Paulsen refused comment.

Several PN members from PAS and Umno took umbrage at Paulsen’s latest appointment to the consultative council, claiming that the latter is known for statements allegedly insulting Islam and Muslims as a whole.

Meanwhile, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Zahidi Zainul Abidin said neither he nor the ministry secretary-general was consulted over the appointment of the former Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) executive director.

Instead, he said Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah made the decision on his own.

Prior to this, Paulsen was in January appointed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry under the then-Harapan government as the new representative of Malaysia to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR) for the 2019-2021 term.

Saifuddin served as Foreign Affairs minister at the time before helming the Communications and Multimedia Ministry under the new Perikatan Nasional government. - Mkini