The Federal Government is preparing to impose tighter regulations over Malaysians’ use of the Internet, a move that Prime Minister Najib Razak says is to curb the spread of “insults and untruths” online.
During a speech at last night’s 25th Tunku Abdul Rahman Lecture at the Shangri-La Hotel in KL, Najib said that despite what many may think, Putrajaya was only interested in preventing criminal defamation online, and not in clamping down on social media.
“People who are ill-informed, on the other hand, will turn to half-truths and lies, and depend on unreliable sources who distort and sensationalise information. This is extremely dangerous,” he said, as quoted by The Malay Mail Online‘s Kamles Kumar.
“This is why my government intends to implement international standards to regulate the Internet – and I specifically say regulate, not restrict – so that none should have to suffer being criminally defamed, and so that the Internet does not become an ungoverned space dominated by insults and untruths.”
Najib also defended his track record in introducing political and civil rights reforms over the course of his tenure as PM, pointing to the Peaceful Assembly Act, and the amendments made to the Printing Presses and Publications Act.
“This was the greatest expansion of civil liberties in Malaysia’s history. Yet some outsiders have attacked us for not taking care of the people’s rights,” he said, as quoted by The Malaysian Insider.
“We are acutely aware of the criticism levelled at the government – and we are listening. Unlike in many other countries in the developing world, no one will ever be arrested or prosecuted for the legitimate expression of their opinions.”
In reponse to Najib’s announcement, Local Government, Urban Wellbeing and Housing Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan said today that the Barisan Nasional ruling coalition was prepared to stake its political survival on the plan to regulate Internet usage.
“We are willing to put our future as a political party on the table to let the people decide,” he told MMO‘s Yiswaree Palansamy.
We’re willing to face the consequences from the Opposition or the rakyat.”
