The DAP is backing the call for an ‘Internet Blackout Day' on Aug 14 by the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ), saying that the recent amendments to the Evidence Act discourage people from sharing on the Internet.

NONE "This clearly runs contrary to the objective of making Malaysia one of the most ‘connected' countries in the world," the party's national publicity chief and MP for Petaling Jaya Utara Tony Pua said.

CIJ said the Internet Blackout Day next Tuesday is part of its drive against the new Section 114A of the Evidence Act, which will muzzle Internet freedom.

The Evidence (Amendment) (No 2) Act 2012 is an infringement on the rights of Internet users and the government should repeal it immediately, Pua said in a statement today.

A move to police the Internet

Under Section 114A, the owner, editor or administrator of a website on which any posting appears - or the owner of the Internet connection or equipment with which the posting was made - is presumed to be the person who made the posting, unless it is proven otherwise.

azlan "We believe the amendment may be construed as an attempt by the powers that be to censor and police what can and cannot be said on the Internet," said Pua.

Websites taking part in the CIJ campaign will on Aug 14 display pop-up messages about the amendment to the Evidence Act. Netizens supporting it have been encouraged to change their Twitter and Facebook profile pictures to black or to post campaign pictures provided by the NGO.

Among the websites taking part in the ‘ blackout ' are Internet auction site lelong.com.my , online forum cari.com.my , entertainment portal gua.com.my and online news sites such as Malaysiakini and Digital News Asia .

The aim of the campaign is to pressure the government to withdraw the amendment, which was passed in the April and came into force on July 31.