Online Safety Bill: PAS MP fears M'sia could be like N Korea, China

PARLIAMENT | PAS information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari (PN-Pasir Mas) has raised the alarm on the Online Safety Bill (OSB) 2024 in his debate during its second reading in Dewan Rakyat today.

"I stand here not only to debate this bill but to ring the warning bell to all Malaysians.

"If this bill is passed without significant amendments, it has the potential to drag our country towards a digital autocracy like how we witness in countries such as North Korea and China," he said.

Fadhli then recommended the bill be withdrawn and referred to the relevant parliamentary special select committee for review.

Other opposition MPs - including Wan Razali Wan Nor (PN-Kuantan), Shaharizukirnain Abd Kadir (PN-Setiu) and Azman Nasrudin (PN-Padang Serai) - echoed this call.

Fadhli (above) also suggested that the government conduct a public consultation session with industry experts and civil society organisations.

Last month, the Online Safety Advocacy Group (Osag) expressed concerns about the bill, warning that laws must balance the need for protection with the fundamental right to freedom of expression.

In handing over a memorandum to the Prime Minister’s Department, Osag argued that the government’s process of drafting the bill and cyberbullying amendments has been rushed, leaving key groups underrepresented.

Previously, the government indicated that the bill and the amendments to the Penal Code were aimed at curbing criminal activities on social media instead of restricting freedom of expression.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil explained that it will also ensure that social media platform operators are more proactive in curbing criminal activities on their respective platforms to avoid facing action.

Blocking contents

However, Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah (PN-Langkawi) said the government has a history of issuing requests to take down social media posts from opposition members.

"Even without this act, the government, through the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, has blocked several news portals on the internet seemingly because of sensitive issues, but it seems like the government cannot stand criticism from the people," he said.

Last year in August, attempts to access UtusanTV resulted in redirection to a generic government notice claiming a violation of law without specifying the nature of the violation.

Before that in June, MalaysiaNow was partially blocked, as some Celcom and Maxis users reported that they were unable to access the website.

However, DAP's Wong Shu Qi (Harapan-Kluang), in arguing against those who raised concerns about freedom of speech and expression being affected, said other countries have enacted similar legislation.

"This bill is not to restrict freedom of speech but to overcome issues such as financial fraud, cyberbullying, paedophilia and so on," she said.

She also criticised the comparisons of Malaysia to China and North Korea, saying that such analogies are "wrong" as they are unequal.

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