...removing blogs and comments on social media...Eddin [Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Shithsaid the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was able to erase postings and take action on any content published by individuals...
If the removing of Blogs and comments on social media is done pursuant to a court order, where the Blog owner or comment poster has the right to be heard, then it may be JUST and according to the RULE OF LAW...but if the government does it on its own, it is an affront to to Freedom of Expression.First step really should be informing the Blog Owner or Comment poster to remove it for stated reasons. Alternatively, the government could immediately publicly respond and correct the wrong perspective...
FREEDOM OF SPEECH, EXPRESSION AND OPINION - it is worrying that some in the Pakatan Harapan new government of Malaysia seems to have a wrong understanding of the true meaning of this human right.
Sometime what is said or expressed will ANNOY some people...including the government and even Ministers ...but that is the right of people to be able to 'FREELY' express themselves, and if we do not agree or think it is wrong - then we should also speak up...express ourselves...
The idea is 'dialogue' and discussion ...and ultimately people will decide but it may never be a consensus...
PEOPLE - well, they are all not legally trained - so, their speech/expression may be CRUDE ...maybe even totally baseless or really wrong or based on inaccuracies and falsehood.
Well, the response is to provide enlightenment - drawing attention to the inaccuracies and/or falsehood the expression/speech was based on...and certainly not commencing legal action based on 'defamation' in court.
'DEFAMATION SUITS' - well, this is the tool of the 'RICH' and powerful - it is an expensive affair...which sadly, some of the current leaders of the PH government has sadly resorted to such defamation suits...And when the poorer ordinary person or even small media are subjected to such defamation suits, they just 'give up' ...and many even will 'apologize'...not because they are wrong but simply because they cannot afford to risk the money...and the time...or the resources.
Rather than blocking Blogs and/or websites, or arbitrarily removing comments on social media, this new government must strongly adhere to respecting and promoting the Freedom of Speech, Expression and Opinion...
SPEEDY CLARIFICATION AND EDUCATION is the correct way of doing things. And, even if the government wants to BLOCK, REMOVE or CENSOR it must be done in accordance with the RULE OF LAW...If not, this new government risks just like our past BN government in blocking freedoms of persons.
Remember blocking expression and opinion on social media and the internet only means that people with such opinions will still hold them and pass it on - and others are denied the opportunity of opposing or even responding, which do have the effect of educating and changing minds for the better. One may have a wrong view simply because one never considered counter arguments and even have access to the real facts. Governments have so much media resources - and they should use them to respond.
RESPECT FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION, SPEECH, OPINION...AND THE RIGHT TO SHARE ONE'S OPINIONS... This is not simply the right to be accorded to MPs in the Dewan Rakyat where they can say anything without the risk of persecution or other legal action by the 'affected'..NO- this freedom is something that all Malaysians must be able to enjoy...
All this current comments may be following the incident at the Sri Maha Mariamman temple in Selangor but wrong views can arise because of simply wrong information or lack of facts...and the government should do this providing of information and correcting misconceptions..not block individuals exercise of their freedom of expression and opinion, nor by threats.
Don't abuse freedom of speech to stoke tensions, says deputy minister
THE public must be responsible and not
abuse the freedom of speech they have on social media to trigger
sensitive racial and religious issues, said Deputy Communications and
Multimedia Minister Eddin Syazlee Shith.
Eddin said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
(MCMC) was able to erase postings and take action on any content
published by individuals who were irresponsible on social media and seen
to be stoking racial tension.
“The government today does not want to use laws such
as the Sedition Act because we want the people to have the freedom of
speech so that they can express their views and offer constructive
criticisms.
“But if it comes to slandering and causing racial discord, the
Communications and Multimedia Ministry will work with the Home Ministry
to investigate and assist in removing blogs and comments on social media
that are racist and extreme in nature,” he told Bernama after attending
the Free Market Johol and Back To School programme today.
Eddin, who is also Kuala Pilah MP, was commenting on the spread of
fake news that appeared on various social media platforms aimed at
manipulating the issue of the riots that took place in and around the
Sri Maha Mariamman temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya recently. – Bernama,
December 1, 2018.- Malaysian Insight, 1/12/2018
Don’t use abuse freedom of speech on social media to stoke racial issues: Eddin
02 Dec 2018 / 07:52 H.
KUALA PILAH:
The public must be responsible and not abuse the freedom of speech they
have on social media to trigger sensitive racial and religious issues,
said Deputy Minister of Communications and Multimedia, Eddie Syazlee
Shith .
Eddin said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia
Commission (MCMC) was able to erase postings and take action on any
content published by individuals who were irresponsible on social media
and seen to be stoking racial tension.
“The government today does
not want to use laws such as the Sedition Act 1948 because we want the
people to have the freedom of speech so that they can express their
views and offer constructive criticisms.
“But if it comes to
slandering and causing racial discord, the Ministry of Communications
and Multimedia (KKMM) will work with the Home Ministry (KDN) to
investigate and assist in removing blogs and comments on social media
that are racist and extreme in nature,” he told Bernama after attending the Free Market Johol and Back To School program here yesterday.
Eddin,
who is also Kuala Pilah MP, was commenting on the spread of fake news
that appeared on various social media platforms aimed at manipulating
the issue of the riots that took place in and around the Sri Maha
Mariamman temple in USJ 25, Subang Jaya recently. — Bernama - The Sun Daily, 1/12/2018
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