Malaysia
Internet freedom movement in Malaysia
Internet freedom has long been a contentious issue in Malaysia. In 2010, a report in The Malaysian Insider indicated that Prime Minister Najib’s administration was planning to put in place a filter to block so-called “undesirable sites”. However, the government quickly backed away from these plans following strong criticism of the proposal. Controversy arose again when the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) commissioned a study on China’s Internet filter operation. Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum was quick to deny any plans for implementation of such a system, saying that it had simply been a “study”, nothing more. There exist numerous other examples of threats to Internet freedom in Malaysia, including a noticeable increase in the use of the Communications and Multimedia ACT 1998 since 2009. This act is often used to silence dissidence, and has permitted authorities to investigate various media outlets and blogs, in search of what they have referred to as “offensive comments”.1
Protests spread quickly over yet another such threat to Internet freedom this past summer: amendments to the Evidence Act, brought forth in the form of Section 114A. These amendments were crafted during a parliamentary meeting in April, 2012.2 This new section of the act allows authorities to act against anyone accused of posting something considered defamatory, inflammatory or seditious on the Internet. Not only would the individual Internet user be responsible for that post, but so would anyone connected to the website, registered with the network service provider, or in custody of the computer that was used to make the post. As well, any accused user is considered guilty, until proven innocent. This was seen by many Malaysian Internet activists as an effort to curb Internet freedoms.
The Center for Independent Journalism began a Stop 114A campaign this past summer, garnering support among civil society organizations, bloggers and members of the opposition. Supporters of this campaign included opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim (Parti Keadilan Rakyat), as well as the leader of the Democratic Action Party, Lim Kit Siang. Umno Youth chief Khairy Jamaluddin and Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah also opposed Section 114A.4 The Center put together a petition of more than 3300 signatures, which they subsequently handed to Law Minister Datuk VK Liew. The petition asked the government to withdraw 114A, claiming that it constituted a threat to freedom of expression and is also problematic due to its presumption of guilt, rather than innocence. Prominent signatories to the petition included Segambut MP Lim Lip Eng, Pete Teo, a film producer, Patrick Teoh, a writer and radio personality, Maria Mahathir, and Dr. Irene Fernandez, two prominent social activists, as well as two notable academics, Dr. Azmi Sharom and Dr. Mustafa K. Anuar.5 The campaign culminated in an Internet Blackout Day on August 14th, 2012, inspired by a similar day of activism earlier in the year in the United States. Websites taking part included that of the Bar Council, as well as of the Democratic Action Party. Many prominent bloggers also agreed to support this campaign, allow a pop-up with the campaigns message to link to their websites. News sites also participated, including Free Malaysia Today, Malaysiakini, Digital News Asia, The Nut Graph, bfm and Merdeka Review. Many social society organizations took part as well, including SUARAM, Women’s Aid Organisation, ALIRAN, Kajian Politik untuk Perubahan (KPRU), Research for Social Advancement and Sinar Project. International organizations Wikileaks and NGO Access Now also showed their support for fellow Internet activists in Malaysia.6 A full list of the participants can be found here. Following this public outcry, Prime Minister Najib indicated he was re-evaluating Section 114A.7
"Whatever we do, we must put the people first."
-Prime Minister Najib, speaking about the re-evaluation of Section 114A |
Stop 114A campaign website
1 Masterwordsmith, “Internet freedom in Malaysia: a muzzled mess”, New Mandala, 1 March, 2011. Available online at: http://asiapacific.anu.edu.au/newmandala/2011/03/01/internet-freedom-in-malaysia-a-muzzled-mess
2 “Press Release: Petition to stop controversial amendment handed to deputy minister”, Centre for Independent Journalism, 26 June, 2012. Available online at: http://cijmalaysia.org/2012/06/27/press-release-petition-to-stop-controversial-amendment-handed-to-deputy-minister/
3 Cheong, D. & Yin, Y. “Malaysia’s Internet blackout: politicization of online activism?”, East Asia Forum, August 31, 2012. Available online at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/08/31/malaysias-internet-blackout-politicisation-of-online-activism/
4 Goan, L. “Internet freedom and democracy”, The Malaysian Insider, August 31, 2012. Available online at: http://www.themalaysianinsider.com/sideviews/article/internet-freedom-and-democracy-lim-sue-goan/
5 “Press Release: Petition to stop controversial amendment handed to deputy minister”, Centre for Independent Journalism, 26 June, 2012. Available online at: http://cijmalaysia.org/2012/06/27/press-release-petition-to-stop-controversial-amendment-handed-to-deputy-minister/
6 “Press Release: Internet Blackout Day on 14 August gaining momentum”, Centre for Independent Journalism, 13 August, 2012. Available online at: http://cijmalaysia.org/2012/08/14/internet-blackout-day-on-14-august-gaining-momentum/
7 Cheong, D. & Yin, Y. “Malaysia’s Internet blackout: politicization of online activism?”, East Asia Forum, August 31, 2012. Available online at: http://www.eastasiaforum.org/2012/08/31/malaysias-internet-blackout-politicisation-of-online-activism/
Partner Organizations in Malaysia
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