TO avoid abuse of power, the Communications and Digital Ministry is open to hearing suggestions for amending the contentious Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA).
Communications and Digital Deputy Minister Teo Nie Ching told the Dewan Rakyat today during question time that the ministry is open to hearing suggestions on how to improve the law under the CMA.
Section 233 of the CMA addresses the improper use of network facilities or services and criminalises anyone who makes or spreads obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or offensive comments online with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten, or harass another person.
The DAP lawmaker said there have been efforts to study Section 233, these efforts are more towards seeing how investigations (under the section) can be eased.
“We welcome any recommendations from MPs on how to improve Section 233. There is definitely a necessity for the existence of the law, but we can work out how to make sure it is not abused,” The Vibes reported the Kulai MP as saying in a reply to Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan on whether Putrajaya has any plans to amend Section 233 of the CMA.
As a lawyer, he has represented citizens investigated under the law after posting online critiques of political leaders, according to Syahredzan.
Moreover, Lawyers for Liberty recently expressed its displeasure with the arrest of two schoolboys in connection with a video they posted “ridiculing the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) history paper” which has since gone viral.
Group director Zaid Malek said the continued existence of Section 233 of the CMA, which is being used against the boys, is a bane to freedom of speech and contrary to promises of reform by Pakatan Harapan, which is chaired by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Furthermore, Syahredzan had previously called for an urgent review of the law, pointing out that its broad definition makes it vulnerable to abuse.
His remark came in response to police charging Refuge for the Refugees founder Heidy Quah with an alleged violation of Section 233 of the CMA, which was later dropped.
Quah stated that after initially being advised that she would be charged under the provision for a Facebook post expressing her concerns about the mass arrests of refugees and migrants during the COVID-19 lockdowns, she was informed by the investigating officer that the case would not be pursued. — March 1, 2023
