More clamour for gov’t control over news portals

comments     Bernama     Published     Updated

The government's proposal to regulate news portals is timely, to preserve harmony among the people and unity in the country, said Dewan Rakyat deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee.

He noted that the digital era had brought with it a global phenomena of unrestricted speech and expression, a liberty that allegedly could and been misused.

"News portals are not controlled by anyone except their administrators, unlike the conventional mass media which usually have their 'gatekeepers'.

"The portals or social media upload or carry news or information freely, without due regard to public interest," said Ronald, who is also Beluran member of parliament.

He said this while opening a 1Malaysia Internet Centre at Kampung Gana Jati in Beluran, yesterday.

He was commenting on the proposed amendment to the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, to be tabled in Parliament in October, which would require news portals to be registered.

- Bernama



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