Amendment to the Act moving towards internet censorship
We observe with grave concern over the recently passed Evidence (Amendment)(No.2) Act 2012 which mentioned that internet users would be held liable for any content posted through their registered networks or data processing units. Such measures are clearly seen to be unjust and it looks that it is the BN government attempt to put more fear in our people.
It has been confirmed that the recently amended law would have a very serious repercussions on internet use as the owner of the site or device will be treated as guilty and has to fight for his or her innocence. What if another person starts a blog in you name? What if an unknown person posted some offensive comments into your Facebook? What if someone shares your WiFi account or upload any documentations that are deemed unlawful? And what if someone (particularly from the pro-government side) hack into your account and post all sorts of articles which are deemed to be threatening the nation? Is the authorities going to cut it short and just put all the blame on the owner or publisher?
First of all, why aren't the stakeholders consulted on this? Why is the opposition members of parliament unaware of such move in the earlier stage and they only got to know it when the proposal was tabled in parliament recently and was immediately bulldozed through the Dewan Rakyat and then to Dewan Negara in such a speed for approval without any debates, consultations or whatsoever?
The other concern on the new section of this law is that it could also lead to power abuse by the authorities, investigators and force an innocent party to rebut presumption of guilt at serious risk of wrongful prosecution, imprisonment and injustice.
It seems that the BN government is still in denial mode. These BN leaders are indeed feel threatened with the increasing public awareness on freedom of expression and media freedom. The new section of this law also clearly indicates that the BN government wanted to control and censor online contents. These BN leaders wanted revenge and the worst thing is they hated democracy and wanted to shut down the people's expression.
The BN government is working against its own 10-Point Multimedia Bill of Guarantees where it mentioned that, there should be no censorship on the internet in order to allow a free flow of information. And to add salt to injury, the amendment to the Act had indirectly insulted the Federal Constitution. It is also stated in one article of the Federal Constitution that the freedom of expression of our people are enshrined in the country's highest law of establishment.
With the BN still at helm in Putrajaya, we believed this nation would be heading backwards instead of moving forward and there's nothing much we could do now other than to be patient enough to wait for the next general elections to come.
It has been confirmed that the recently amended law would have a very serious repercussions on internet use as the owner of the site or device will be treated as guilty and has to fight for his or her innocence. What if another person starts a blog in you name? What if an unknown person posted some offensive comments into your Facebook? What if someone shares your WiFi account or upload any documentations that are deemed unlawful? And what if someone (particularly from the pro-government side) hack into your account and post all sorts of articles which are deemed to be threatening the nation? Is the authorities going to cut it short and just put all the blame on the owner or publisher?
First of all, why aren't the stakeholders consulted on this? Why is the opposition members of parliament unaware of such move in the earlier stage and they only got to know it when the proposal was tabled in parliament recently and was immediately bulldozed through the Dewan Rakyat and then to Dewan Negara in such a speed for approval without any debates, consultations or whatsoever?
The other concern on the new section of this law is that it could also lead to power abuse by the authorities, investigators and force an innocent party to rebut presumption of guilt at serious risk of wrongful prosecution, imprisonment and injustice.
It seems that the BN government is still in denial mode. These BN leaders are indeed feel threatened with the increasing public awareness on freedom of expression and media freedom. The new section of this law also clearly indicates that the BN government wanted to control and censor online contents. These BN leaders wanted revenge and the worst thing is they hated democracy and wanted to shut down the people's expression.
The BN government is working against its own 10-Point Multimedia Bill of Guarantees where it mentioned that, there should be no censorship on the internet in order to allow a free flow of information. And to add salt to injury, the amendment to the Act had indirectly insulted the Federal Constitution. It is also stated in one article of the Federal Constitution that the freedom of expression of our people are enshrined in the country's highest law of establishment.
With the BN still at helm in Putrajaya, we believed this nation would be heading backwards instead of moving forward and there's nothing much we could do now other than to be patient enough to wait for the next general elections to come.
