The international NGO Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urged Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil to end a wave of censorship targeting online news websites.
“RSF is very concerned by this wave of suspensions by Malaysian authorities, without any explanations nor judicial control, of news websites critical of the government,” the group’s Asia-Pacific bureau director Cédric Alviani said in a statement yesterday.
He said such actions can only have a negative impact on Malaysian democracy.
The Paris-based group was responding to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) move to block access to several news websites.
Since June, the affected websites are MalaysiaNow, UtusanTV, and TV Pertiwi.
This is despite Fahmi’s (above) pledge that media websites would not be blocked while an investigation is still ongoing.
The MCMC has declined to comment on specific cases but said it is duty bound to stop any offence under Malaysian law from taking place online, which includes tackling misinformation, offensive content, and defamation.
“In recent times, there has been an alarming increase in news reporting that lacks responsibility, sensibility, and accuracy. Some of the news outlets have been found… spreading misleading information or intentionally publishing inaccurate content.
“The rise of converged media, where user-generated content gains traction and ethical reporting takes a back seat, has accentuated this problem. With the vast amount of information available online, it becomes challenging to distinguish between fact and fiction.
“This poses a significant threat to societal harmony, as misleading information can be easily propagated and false narratives can be created,” the commission said in statement on Tuesday.
Earlier this year, the RSF ranked Malaysia 73rd out of 180 countries – the highest Malaysia ever attained on the World Press Freedom Ranking. The country also ranked highest among its Southeast Asian counterparts for two years in a row. - Mkini
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