Although disappointed over the Federal Court’s decision to reinstate the words “offensive” and “annoying” in Section 233A of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA), activist Heidy Quah said the verdict still marked a significant shift in freedom of speech in the country.

“A democratic society cannot grow if its people are afraid to speak. Progress requires conversations that are difficult and uncomfortable. Conversations that expose broken systems, question those in power, protect whistleblowers, and uphold accountability...