One cannot help wondering what Minister Fahmy and the Anwar Ibrahim PH led government were up with Facebook, Telegram and even other social media.
Concern have been about 'CENSORSHIP' and restriction of Freedom of Expression and Opinion by Anwar and his PH led government have become a worry.
Note that government seems to be NOT just talking about Porn Sites and Online Gambling or even Macau Scams - but is talking also about the 3R - race, religion and royalty. Well, I must state that the government should not restrict our ability to comment or express an opinion on matters concerning race, religion or even royalty.
I am against invasion of privacy and/or 'spying' by the government or 'service providers' and App owners including Facebook, Twitter, Telegram, Google into my personal communication with people on social media...
I expected SPYING and Censorship, and other online interference would have come to end in Malaysia after the ousting of that 'evil' Barisan Nasional regime after GE14 - but now, I am worried that Anwar and the PH-led government may be the same or maybe even worse...
The
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has failed in
its attempt to get Twitter to take down several tweets by a vocal
government critic, the latest in a series of actions to shut down views
not favourable to Putrajaya, MalaysiaNow has learnt.
Is this TRUE - so what Anwar wants is to remove any criticisms about him and the current government? Anwar and Minister Fahmy better clarify soonest...
The
Malaysian government announced that it is filing a lawsuit against Meta
Platforms for its purported failure to remove "undesirable" posts on
the company’s popular social media platform Facebook.
PM and Minister Fahmy, please CLARIFY what undesirable posts are we talking about?
Worse, is the government "REMOVING" posts of people when it considers it to be 'undesirable" - This is wrong...so wrong...It is so arbitrary. Any removal of POSTS of persons must require at the very least a Court ORDER - it cannot be the Minister or some public officer deciding arbitrarily to remove this or that...
And the person, who posted 'undesirable posts' should have a right to KNOW, and even a right to be heard before there is interference in his/her private communications..
Is support and vote for PN or MUDA in the upcoming State elections considered to be an 'undesirable post".
Is calls to support PH and BN then a 'desirable post'?
RESPECT Human Rights and our Freedom of Speech, Expression and Opinion... Accept and respond to criticisms about the PM, Ministers and government...
TRUE, there is a rising discontent about this Anwar led government - the Bad laws like Sedition Act, SOSMA, Detention Without Trial Laws like POTA and POCA, and the draconian provisions in Societies Act, University and University Colleges Act, Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act of 1998 and other laws are yet to be repealed. Sadly, some of these draconian laws are still being used....
"Censorship does not reflect confidence, nor is it in tandem with
broadening democracy. A better approach is to present alternative
narratives and protect media freedom," said political analyst Bridget
Welsh on Twitter.
A
block that rendered the MalaysiaNow news website inaccessible to a
large section of internet users in the country appeared to have ended
this afternoon, after a barrage...
Of course, naturally the first to be suspected would be Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil and the Malaysian government >>>> Remember the government can do this indirectly through 'service providers' and App owners ... The Minister apparently claimed that they were not responsible ...BUT THAT IS NOT ENOUGH...
Malaysia Now is a Malaysian media outlet, and it provides a service to all in Malaysia - HENCE, Minister Fahmi, as the relevant Minister, PLEASE INVESTIGATE and determine who was responsible for the 'ATTACK" on Malaysia Now... and give the Rakyat a report soon.
Protect all users of the Internet...protect their privacy...that is the duty of the Minister Fahmy and his Ministry..
See earlier posts:-
GREAT - Telegram did not want to participate in “any form of political censorship”? An explanation why will not cooperate with Minister?
Bar Resolution on Respect of Privacy, End of “Spying” and Intervention of Internet without Due Notice, ... Will Anwar's PH-led government do the needful?
Malaysia Must Stop Pressuring Facebook and Telegram to Monitor or Control User’s Private Communication
SEDITION Act - Moratorium on the use of unjust laws pending repeal
Respect People’s Right to Privacy, Freedom of Expression - Repeal Section 233 and other rights violating provisions in the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998(CMA)...- MADPET
Twitter shoots down MCMC's request to delete posts critical of PM
This follows a news portal being rendered inaccessible for 48 hours.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has failed in its attempt to get Twitter to take down several tweets by a vocal government critic, the latest in a series of actions to shut down views not favourable to Putrajaya, MalaysiaNow has learnt.
The US-based social networking service refused MCMC's request to take down four tweets by Salim Iskandar, who frequently posts tweets mocking Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's coalition government.
"As Twitter strongly believes in defending and respecting the voice of our users, it is our policy to notify our users if we receive a legal request from an authorised entity (such as law enforcement or a government agency) to remove content from their account," Twitter said in an email to Salim informing him of MCMC's request.
Salim had earlier posted a series of tweets challenging Anwar to take a religious oath to deny the sodomy allegation for which he was convicted and sentenced to jail in 2015, before being granted a royal pardon in 2018.
He also criticised the prime minister for his current stance in favour of Chinese investments, comparing it to Anwar's past statements against being dependent on Beijing, including one where Anwar accused the then government under Najib Razak of selling out the country to China.
Twitter in its response advised Salim to decide whether he would like to delete the posts volutarily or seek legal counsel.
The company has a policy of scrutinising requests from government agencies to take down posts, but these are only fulfilled for cases involving harm to children, threats to life and terrorism.
Twitter's policy also bars it from complying with requests which could restrict freedom of expression or silence journalists and legitimate political speeches.
MCMC is an agency under the communications and digital ministry helmed by Fahmi Fadzil, who recently courted controversy for his attacks on the media as well as a threat of police action against government critics.
Fahmi and MCMC were again thrust into the limelight after MalaysiaNow was rendered inaccessible, just hours after the online news outlet reported on Fahmi's outburst at government critics during a TikTok Live session.
While the minister denied issuing orders to block any news portal, checks with online tools showed that the block was implemented in a manner commonly used by authorities in Malaysia to block pornographic and other undesirable content.
The site was inaccessible for users of Unifi, Maxis and Celcom but was up again on Thursday afternoon with no block reported on the three top internet service providers. -Malaysia Now, 30/6/2023
Malaysia to sue Meta for non-removal of 'undesirable' posts
[Source]
The Malaysian government announced that it is filing a lawsuit against Meta Platforms for its purported failure to remove "undesirable" posts on the company’s popular social media platform Facebook.
Enforcing accountability: In a statement released Friday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission noted that it is pursuing legal action against the company to safeguard consumers and enforce accountability for cybersecurity.
Meta’s response, which has been sluggish and unsatisfactory, has not met the urgency of the matter and has led to increasing public concern and scrutiny. As there is no sufficient cooperation from Meta, MCMC has no option but to take definitive steps or legal action against Meta as a measure to ensure that people are secure and protected in the digital sphere.
Meta has reportedly refused to take down what the agency has deemed objectionable content despite repeated requests. The posts in question involve topics such as race, religion, defamation, impersonation, online gambling and scam advertisements.
Legal basis: According to the commission, allowing the abuse of network facilities or application services constitutes an offense under Malaysia's Communications and Multimedia Act of 1998.
Under the law, company officials who refuse to take immediate action can be charged with "willfully providing means and aiding criminal activity.” If found guilty, offenders may be penalized with a fine not exceeding 50,000 Malaysian Ringgit (approximately $10,690), imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.
Curbing certain posts: The current administration under Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, which assumed power in November, has been vocal in its intent to curb what it considers inflammatory social media posts involving race and religion.
The government has attributed its stance to the recent heightened ethnic tensions in the country, where a majority Muslim ethnic Malay population co-exists alongside significant Chinese and Indian minorities.
Sensitive times: The statement comes just weeks before elections are held in six states, as the terms for those local governments expire this year.
Malaysia-based Centre for Independent Journalism reported in its hate speech-monitoring initiative last year that race-based topics dominated political discussions on social media during and after the previous election.
Anwar's alliance, which includes a predominantly Chinese party, is facing off against a conservative Malay Muslim alliance advocating for a strict interpretation of Sharia in the upcoming election, - Yahoo News, 27/6/2023
Amid condemnation, block lifted from MalaysiaNow but govt's press freedom record takes a dive
The episode raises questions on the current government's treatment of the media despite a minister denying any involvement.
A block that rendered the MalaysiaNow news website inaccessible to a large section of internet users in the country appeared to have ended this afternoon, after a barrage of criticism directed at the government with embattled Communications and Digital Minister Fahmi Fadzil claiming no responsibility.
Checks show that the users of TM-Unifi, Maxis and Celcom are now able to access the website, following a block that saw those using the three major internet service providers unable to access the site since Tuesday.
MalaysiaNow's own checks confirmed that its website had been blocked, raising questions over the possible involvement of those with jurisdictional powers on restricting website access.
The portal is also awaiting a report from global cybersecurity firm Cloudflare.
"While we are relieved that the site is accessible again to Malaysians, we will not rest until we find the culprit behind this coincidence affecting several major ISPs. In the digital world, everything can be tracked, and we will know soon," said MalaysiaNow editor Abdar Rahman Koya.
Fahmi, who drew condemnation this week for threatening members of the public with police action if they did not "behave themselves", has denied issuing instructions for any news portal to be blocked.
But many on social media took the statement with a pinch of salt, especially given his apparent penchant for trying to silence media outlets carrying content unfavourable to the government.
The block on MalaysiaNow was the first time since 2016 that a news portal with media accreditation was subject to a systematic ban on access across several major ISPs.
In 2016, news portal The Malaysian Insider was blocked after a series of reports on the 1MDB scandal. The site was shut down some weeks later.
Fahmi's denial meanwhile fuelled suspicion among activists and observers.
"Censorship does not reflect confidence, nor is it in tandem with broadening democracy. A better approach is to present alternative narratives and protect media freedom," said political analyst Bridget Welsh on Twitter.
Wan Saiful Wan Jan, the Perikatan Nasional shadow minister for the communications and digital portfolio, issued a strongly worded statement condemning the block of MalaysiaNow, and urged foreign observers to stop giving "the benefit of doubt" to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's administration.
"Anwar's administration is not only incompetent, but they also abuse enforcement agencies to silence those who expose their incompetence," said the vocal Tasek Gelugor MP.
"Observers, national and international, should know by now that Anwar and his administration are nowhere near the reformist they pretend to be.
"We should realise that this is Anwar's true colours. He is vengeful, draconian and incompetent," said Wan Saiful, adding that Fahmi's outburst at those making anti-government statements was symptomatic "of this administration's attitude towards free speech".
A journalists' group and several activists also condemned the block, while some uploaded proof that MalaysiaNow was being blocked despite Fahmi’s denials.
Gerakan Media Merdeka urged Fahmi's ministry and its agency, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to come clean, citing findings on an online connectivity tool that the website had been blocked through DNS tampering.
"DNS tampering is a common method used in Malaysia to censor 'undesirable' online content including pornography, online gambling and violent extremist sites.
"Any form of online news or legitimate opinions clearly should not be subjected to such censorship," said the group.
An ex-aide to Muhyiddin Yassin meanwhile mocked critics who had condemned the Covid-19 state of emergency imposed under the former prime minister, saying the press was free even during that period.
"Even during the emergency, we didn't resort to such actions. Malaysiakini, Malaysia esok, Malaysia lusa, all were free to report," quipped Marzuki Mohamad.
"It seems that these days are more of an emergency. I don't even know what sort of emergency it is. It could be the OPR increase emergency, the electricity tariff hike emergency, goods prices hike emergency. Even a stick of lemang these days costs RM20."
One political commentator said MalaysiaNow was probably targeted due to its reports on a recent incident during a dialogue with students, where Anwar jokingly asked a female student for her number, drawing outrage from the public.
Yaakob Osman also referred to a report by the portal on Fahmi's TikTok Live session where the politician had threatened critics of the government with police action.
"My advice to MalaysiaNow, it's better to just flatter those at the top, that's what they want," he wrote.
Meanwhile, seasoned journalist Gobind Rudra said the episode faced by MalaysiaNow exposed those who had championed press freedom in the past, adding that Fahmi enjoyed playing a "bully" while using government media "who provide the kind of obsequious servility and non-stop airtime he seems to crave".
"It is a far cry from the day Anwar Ibrahim stood before a sea of supporters on the Esplanade Padang and proclaimed that when Pakatan Harapan got into Putrajaya, 'Kami free the media. Next day!'
"Many, many next days have come and gone, Anwar. And the only thing that you have given us is a pipsqueak Goebbels," Rudra wrote on Facebook.
Political scoops
MalaysiaNow was launched in September 2020 by a small team of experienced journalists who have been with various online portals over the years.
It has been behind several political scoops and exposes over the past three years.
In October 2020, it revealed a letter to the palace jointly signed by Umno leaders Najib Razak and Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in support of Anwar's bid to take over the government in the midst of the pandemic.
In November 2021, meanwhile, MalaysiaNow exposed the government's plan to "gift" Najib with a 2.8-acre residential property worth RM100 million in one of Kuala Lumpur's most exclusive neighbourhoods, a move which drew protests from several Cabinet ministers at that time including Khairy Jamaluddin and Mohamed Azmin Ali.
The portal also leaked a telephone conversation between Zahid and Anwar, which showed how they had planned to set the tone of the Umno general assembly in cutting ties with Perikatan Nasional.
Last year, MalaysiaNow reported privileges accorded to Anwar during his 40-plus-month imprisonment for sodomy, as a debate brewed on special treatment for Najib who had just started serving his sentence at Kajang Prison.
The report, among others, said the politician had spent a considerable amount of time outside the prison walls, and was allowed a stream of visitors, "unprison-like" furniture and countless out-of-jail trips.
Earlier this month, MalaysiaNow quoted sources, who said maritime experts had warned Putrajaya against signing a border agreement with Indonesia, ahead of a trip by President Joko Widodo.
Anwar has since denied that the treaty was conclusive, despite
earlier statements by Jokowi celebrating the end of an 18-year old
maritime dispute. - Malaysia Now, 29/6/2023
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