Two days after its official TikTok account was banned, online portal TV Pertiwi found its website to be inaccessible from certain providers.
TV Pertiwi this morning lodged a police report in Bangi to seek explanation from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) over reasons that it has been blocked.
TV Pertiwi CEO Mohd Firdaus Salleh Hudin also demanded an explanation from the government over the DNS block arbitrarily enforced by MCMC.
In a brief statement today, the MCMC said it is obliged under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to prevent any attempted offences, particularly pertaining to misinformation.
However, it said it is still preparing to assess whether TV Pertiwi has breached the law.
Regulatory duties
"As we prepare for the upcoming assessment of TV Pertiwi, we strive to demonstrate our accountability in fulfilling our regulatory duties.
"Any action taken is subject to the investigation to ensure the integrity and security of information disseminated through media and content platforms," it said, adding that the internet regulator remains committed to upholding the rule of law and protecting the public interest.
In a statement on its Facebook account, where the media organisation continues to upload its content and live updates, Firdaus (above) yesterday said TV Pertiwi's management was not notified of the block.
He said the DNS block was confirmed by TV Pertiwi's independent testing.
"Restriction on the portal was detected from at least two Internet Service Providers, Maxis and Unifi.
"This restriction is highly unreasonable and goes against the government's call for press freedom and freedom of expression, particularly parties from Pakatan Harapan, which they had made as then opposition," said Firdaus.
‘Come clean’
As such, he urged the government, particularly the Communications and Digital Ministry as well as MCMC, to come clean and state its reasons to block TV Pertiwi.
"TV Pertiwi as an independent media portal has a right to be given justice, and the right to air contents including those which are critical of the government, in line with the right to press freedom and freedom of speech," he said.
TV Pertiwi, launched in 2021, is owned by Kerengga Merah Sdn Bhd and operates at the same location as NGO Ikatan Muslimin Malaysia (Isma).
TV Pertiwi chairperson Norzila Baharin is also Isma's women's chief.
Previously, Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil has given his guarantee that news websites will not be blocked pending investigations by the MCMC.
He said this last week when asked about another MCMC block against UtusanTV - an online portal run by former staff of Utusan Malaysia, with no current affiliations to the publication now run by Media Mulia. - Mkini
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