The government is far from ready to amend the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984, said Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein.

He said the proposed changes are still "at the very, very early stages" and it has not even been decided what exactly the amendments will entail.

NONE "Nothing has been finalised. With the committee (on strengthening government communications) in place, whatever views will first be brought before the committee," Hishammuddin (extreme left in photo) told a press conference today at Parliament House after the committee's first meeting of the year.

Yesterday, Home Ministry secretary-general Mahmood Adam said the government plans to table amendments to the PPPA to include online news sites when Parliament convenes in March.

This triggered instant protests by opposition politicians and journalists, but Hishammuddin pointed out that those opposed to the plan do not have a clue as to what will be amended.

"Even we don't know what amendments will be made... We might even loosen (provisions of the law)," he said.

Hishammuddin said the proposed amendments were not discussed at today's meeting.

Growing uproar

Yesterday, Bernama had quoted Mahmood as saying that the government feels that the amendments are necessary as "the landscape is totally different now", with the "intrusion" of digital technology into the nation's news industry.

He also claimed that the amendments are not aimed at clamping down on the media, but at closing legal loopholes and making the law “more inclusive".

In a quick response, the National Union of Journalists slammed the government for proposing the amendments, saying it would be a "step backwards" for free flow of information.

The government is also finalising guidelines on sedition, that will cover content published online such as in news portals and blogs. It will clarify related legislation in a dos and don’ts format for the public.

Meanwhile, attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail said he had seen the draft of the amendments to the related existing Acts.

He said some quarters had suggested that the draft law had been approved by him but the fact is that he is just accommodating the demands of the customer (Home Ministry).

“I have given my views on it. It involves some of the existing laws - Printing Presses and Publications Act, 1984, the Sedition Act 1948 and Internal Security Act 1960,” he said.

Asked whether it could be tabled in the next parliamentary sitting, Abdul Gani said that you have to ask the customer (Home Minister).

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