Societies say no to Net censorship and media controls

Reject Internet censorship; repeal the PPPA and Sedition Act

From the Centre for Independent Journalism and friends

We are civil society groups alarmed by recent remarks from top ministerial personnel that revealed government intention to censor online free expression, from hints of cyber sedition regulations and the expansion of the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) to encompass the online media.

We strongly protest any attempt to enlarge the scope of the PPPA, and reiterate our calls for the abolition of this law and the Sedition Act, as well as other overly restrictive laws that have no place in the modern, democratic society that Malaysia aspires to be.

The PPPA has been so effective in shackling the press over the past decades, it is horrifying to think that its drastic provisions may be applied to Internet publications, spreading the chilling effect online. It is not difficult to imagine news sites requiring permits, as set by the Chinese example. And judging by numerous books that are banned annually under the PPPA, certain online text and multimedia materials are likely to face the same fate as undesirable publications, while Facebook and Twitter users may easily find themselves landed with charges of spreading false news.

Most worrying is the lack of checks and balances in the PPPA _C the biggest of which is the finality of the Ministers decision, compared with the Communications and Multimedia Act, which at least provides for judicial recourse.

To impose the PPPA online will end the vigour of our cyber space and may radicalise dissent.

Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein says the amendments are still being discussed and it was premature for the media and the public to question this. However, this lack of transparency and public consultation is another point of contention for us. We vehemently object to the federal governments opaque approach in introducing new laws and amendments, revealing little and causing much unease by! hinting rather than informing of what is forthcoming. The lack of public consultation on matters that have a huge impact on the people shows that they are likely to be problematic, yet the government obviously intends to bulldoze its way through.

Thus, we believe that the threat to police the Internet is real, as indicated from the very set-up of a cross-ministerial group _C consisting of the Home Minister; Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim; Minister in the Prime Ministers Department Nazri Abdul Aziz; and Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail _C to focus on restrictions on online free expression.

The aim is obvious _C to rein in the last frontier of free media.

The timing, with snap elections expected this year, indicates political motivation at work since online dissent was credited as a contributing factor to the incumbent federal governments poorest results in four decades in the 2008 general election. Indeed, the federal government appears to be taking a leaf from our southern neighbour, where the ruling Peoples Action Party-led government has intensified its harassment and regulation of online media ahead of polls.

We would like to caution the federal government that any violation of the no Internet censorship guarantee that has been the rallying call for foreign investors to join the Multimedia Super Corridor project since it was launched in 1996, would tarnish Malaysias reputation and prove detrimental for investment.

Any attempt to suppress Internet freedom would result in civil society groups and the wider public going all out to turn this into a major election issue. We call on the people, whose freedoms are already narrowed by the limited press freedom and freedoms of association and assembly in the country, to rise and defend their last frontier for freedom of expression _C make your voices heard in the remaining free space or take it to the ballot box.

This statement was initiated by:
Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia
Charter! 2000-Al iran
Writers Alliance for Media Independence
1 Muted Malaysia

Endorsed by:
1. All Womens Action Society (AWAM)
2. Civil Rights Committe of KL-Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall (CRC-KLSCAH) 3. Civil Society Committee of Lim Lian Giok Cultural Development Centre 4. Coalition Anti Genetically Modified Mosquitoes 5. Community Action Network
6. Community Development Centre (CDC)
7. Gabungan NGO Kelantan(Coalition Of NGOs Of Kelantan)
8. Health Equity Initiatives
9. Jaringan Rakyat Tertindas (JERIT)
10. Lawyers for Liberty
11. Malaysia Youth and Student Democratic Movement (DEMA)
12. Pekan Frinjan
13. Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)
14. Persatuan Masyarakat Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan (PERMAS) 15. Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (KOMAS)
16. Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM
17. Womens Aid Organisation (WAO)


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

All Anwar Ibrahim Sex Videos (Warning: Explicit)

Image
VIDEO WILL BE ARCHIVED SHORTLY, AFTER WHICH, DOWNLOAD FROM MAMAK LINKS HERE NOTICE OF XXX ARCHIVE All explicit stuffs will be archived as soon as our researchers are done with it, hopefully by tomorrow. So, if you wanna keep a copy for legitimate purpose such as stemcell research, religious obligation or perhaps other bona fide investigation, please get a plugin or software to download them before we archive them for good. Bonology.com is a proper domain created for noble causes and as such, we cannot afford to be associated with anything as explicit as "Anwar Ibrahim Tiger Show Part 3". In fact, we have been deleting practically all pictures of awek, cewek and amoi for the past many moons already. Don't believe us ? Try to search for it, we promise we will delete it as soon as it's detected (there could be one or two left). Not that they are porn, but because we try, yes we try to project ourselves as some kind of morally-upright-non-sexually-seducable Gentlemen ... ...
Keep reading

YB SEX SCANDAL - PART 4 (from Sabahkini)- in Malay

Image
BAB 1, SIRI IV : SEKRITARI (SAMBUNGAN) DALAM siri ketiga, Sabahkini.net terus dihujani dengan pelbagai pertanyaan terutama benarkah Skandal Tersebut melibatkan YB yang bernama Rahim sedangkan sudah dinyatakan bahawa jika ada persamaan nama atau tempat hanya secara kebetulan sahaja; tetapi mereka terus mendesak untuk mengetahui sama ada tokoh berkenaan YB mereka. YB Rahim adalah lambang manusia biasa yang menggunakan kedudukan politik, jawatan dan pengaruh untuk melakukan apa sahaja perlakuan yang mungkin menyebabkan para pengundi kesal dengan tindakannya, namun enggan menegur kegiatan jalangnya. Terdapat puluhan malah ratus YB Rahim di Malaysia yang berwajah seperti nabi tetapi bernafsu seperti babi dan kisah ini adalah kisah benar yang dirakamkan daripada mangsa yang tewas atau ditewaskan oleh kegiatan persundalan VVIP yang menjadikan wanita sebagai Mesin Seks namun enggan bertanggung jawab; termasuk yang menyimpan benih di dalam rahim wanita tetapi mencari Pak Sanggup untuk menutupi...
Keep reading

YB SEX SCANDAL - PART 3 (from Sabahkini)- in Malay

Image
BAB 1, SIRI III : SEKRITARI (SAMBUNGAN) DALAM siri kedua, Sabahkini.net menerima pelbagai kutukan daripada pembaca kerana tidak mendedahkan lokasi sebenar, nama tokoh sebenar, YB dari parti mana; namun sebenarnya semua sudah dinyatakan dalam Siri I dan Siri II. Mungkin ramai membaca dengan mata terbeliak kerana mereka harus membaca dengan mata hati dan mata minda untuk menjadikan kes ini sebagai iktibar. YB juga manusia, yang bukan sahaja mempunyai hati dan perasaan, malah bernafsu besar sekalipun tenaga kurang! Ikuti Siri III untuk Bab 1: Sekritari yang menjadi igauan negeri ramai YB kerana mereka juga tidak sunyi daripada melakukan kesilapan disebabkan menyimpan gundik, melakukan jenayah seksual seperti mencabul kehormatan, merogol dan meliwat; malah mengamalkan Rasuah Seks yang sukar dibuktikan oleh SPRM. Sambungan Siri III- Skandal Seks Orang Ternama : YB KETIKA tiba di lobi, Jamliah tidak melihat kelibat YB Rahim atau Pak Karto, melainkan tetamu hotel dan VIP yang sedang berbual...
Keep reading