AUGUST 21 ― This is it, our Malaysian government has started their march towards the Internet’s doorstep again.
About two weeks back, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said that the government is considering introducing a bill that would require online portals to register themselves with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
Dr Salleh said the changes would include the MCMC having the power to block sites deemed as “threats to national security and stability”.
However, he also gave assurance that the Government had no plans to restrict the usage of social media.
Recently, our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak touched on the same topic as well.
According to him, the Malaysian government intends to implement international standards to “regulate” the Internet.
“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,” he added during a speech organised by Malaysian Institute of Management.
After doing some research myself, I am unable to say which international standards that our prime minister was referring to as currently there are no unified laws for the internet around the world. Different type of internet bans are imposed by different parts of the world for different purposes. But it is safe to say that more often than not, curbs like these will certainly limit freedom of speech on the Net.
Malaysians are no strangers when it comes to laws that curb their freedom of speech. With laws like The Sedition Act and the oncoming National Harmony Act being thrown around the news on every other day, who knows what would happen if this new Internet ban law is passed.
The Sedition Act was originally meant to be used to maintain peace and order in the country, but the authorities here had abused that law and currently it is more like they are trying to silence all that opposes and criticises them.
Are we to only read stuff the government wants us to see in the near future and never to find out about their wrong doings ever?
Are we only allowed to publicly have one ideology that supports the ruling government and that anything that is against the dominant ideology is considered a crime like North Korea?
Our government constantly preaches that they are all in for democracy, but behind the scenes they are imposing more and more bans to limit the public’s comments on their activities.
Are we a democracy or dictatorship-to-be in the first place?
If this new Internet ban is passed, will it be one of those law that only looks good on paper like The Sedition Act but only to be misused and abused by the relevant authorities? Only time will tell.
Let us only hope that this new law will not repeat events like Operation Lalang all over again. Only that this time, it will be through the Internet.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of Malay Mail Online.
