Govt's plan to license, regulate social media reeks of despotism - LFL

The government’s plan to get social media platforms licensed in Malaysia reeks of despotism and self-interest, Lawyers for Liberty said.

Its director Zaid Malek drew comparisons with North Korea, Communist China and PAP-ruled Singapore.

"This is shocking and disturbing to all right-minded Malaysians.

"It is yet another clear indication of the Anwar (Ibrahim) government's bid to stifle and control freedom of speech, continuing the current trend of clamping down on public discourse under the guise of stemming supposed harmful and illegal content," Zaid said in a statement today.

He was responding to a report on the plan being in the final stages after receiving the green light from the cabinet.

This reportedly includes imposing a content code on such platforms that would also have regulations regarding political content.

Climate of fear

Elaborating, Zaid said the government is acting in self-interest by trying to clamp down on dissenting voices.

He also accused the Pakatan Harapan-led government of violating Article 10 (1)(a) of the Federal Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.

"It has reneged on its promise to abolish draconian laws that severely limit freedom of speech and continuously utilises those laws against the public.

"It is also well known that the government is systematically blocking videos by government critics on social media platforms, including several online news portals. We are in possession of correspondences that prove that the blocking against government critics is organised and systematic," said Zaid.

He further claimed that Putrajaya has been deliberately instilling a climate of fear to deter public and press criticism against the government or its policies.

"It was only a few months ago that the government threatened the public against discussing the widely reported Forest City casino issue.

"The government even resorted to charging prominent critics like Bersatu Information Committee member Badrul Hisham Shaharin, better known as Chegubard, under the infamous Sedition Act over a Facebook post based on a Bloomberg report."

Zaid also slammed the Harapan government for planning severe restrictions on social media when the coalition itself owed its survival to online news and social media platforms.

"We urge the government to retract this despotic new plan to stifle online criticism, specifically any part of the planned regulations that aim to censor or limit discourse on matters of public importance, particularly the purported regulations regarding political content.

"Any such regulations existing would make a mockery of the Constitution and relegate our country to dictatorial rule."

Report: Cabinet approves plans to license, regulate social media

Court set Nov 18 for Chegubard's sedition case over casino project

Zaid urges editors to unite against 'Madani censorship'

PPPA and its expansion are tools to control media, activists say

National Press Club: Abolish PPPA, not expand it