MCMC probe into offensive remarks on parliamentary session 'absurd': LFL

Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) slammed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission’s (MCMC) “absurd” investigation of the public for allegedly making offensive comments on social media concerning the parliamentary session.

The human rights group’s director Zaid Malek said MCMC’s justification that the probe is to “curb the widespread phenomenon of cyberbullying in society” is laughable and far-fetched.

“Parliament is a public institution. It cannot be cyberbullied.

“Who then is being cyberbullied? Is it the institution or Parliament, or the MPs who sit in it? Which MP has claimed to have been cyberbullied?” Zaid asked in a statement today.

He was responding to MCMC’s statement yesterday that four individuals from Selangor, Kedah, Penang, and Perlis, are being investigated over offensive and provocative comments allegedly posted through a replay of the Parliament session on TikTok on July 9.

Subject to scrutiny

Elaborating, Zaid said MCMC’s investigation appeared to be another “high-handed and unlawful” attempt to stifle criticism and public debate, by using cyberbullying as an excuse.

It was also contrary to Article 10(1)(a) which guarantees the right to freedom of speech, he added.

Zaid said the people have the democratic right to criticise Parliament and the MPs who make up the institution and to treat it as if beyond reproach is misunderstanding the very basic purpose for which the august house was established.

“Parliament is the grand inquest or sounding board of the nation, which functions for the benefit of the people.

“Parliament cannot treat the public as its enemies and lodge police reports against them,” he said, adding that the notion that MPs can cower behind claims of being cyberbullied is also a laughable excuse that cannot pass muster.

“Those who hold office are subject to public scrutiny, and they must embrace criticism just as they do praise.”

Zaid warned that the MCMC’s latest action could be the beginning of a descent into tyranny if left unchecked.

This is because it would embolden MPs or their proxies to threaten criminal action against their critics, he said.

“We note with disappointment that even the deputy Dewan Rakyat speaker Ramli Mohd Nor has lodged a police report against a social media account user.

“It is the government’s duty to uphold the constitutionally guaranteed rights of all Malaysians to free speech, and as such, they must immediately halt any ongoing investigations against the individuals under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for purported cyberbullying of Parliament or MPs.

“It is a mockery of democracy and makes our country a laughing stock of the international community should we use the criminal law to protect elected MPs from harsh words or criticism or satire for their actions in office.”

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