The National Institute for Electoral Integrity (NIEI) condemns the move by the Malaysian Commission on Multimedia and Communication (MCMC) to investigate Malaysiakini in relation to the videos of the cow-head protest in Section 23, Shah Alam.

NIEI believes that the action by the MCMC is mala fide and contradicts the principle of democracy and freedom of the press as enshrined in the Malaysian Constitution and Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights declares that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

In conjunction with Malaysia's Human Rights Day, NIEI demands that the Malaysian government and MCMC to stop its action which clearly infringes on human rights in Malaysia.

While other mainstream media such as television and radio stations and print media are vigorously put under the spell of the Publication and Printing Act, we urged the Malaysian government to allow and respect individual rights to online information.

Lately, several uncalled for moves by the Malaysian authorities in relation to the media has tainted the prime minister's own mantra; 'People First, Performance Now' and the 52nd anniversary of Malaysia's Independence Day.

If Malaysian people are the priority, respecting the individual's freedom and right to information is a condition for nation-building.

Amin Iskandar is the executive director of NIEI