Authorities have launched a systematic campaign to silence critical or dissenting voices, including through the enactment of the Emergency (Essential Powers) (No.2) Ordinance concerning “fake news” and aggressive application of existing repressive laws. We call on authorities to cease all baseless investigations that threaten freedom of expression in Malaysia and repeal or substantially amend problematic laws in line with Malaysia’s international human rights obligations.
Access Now joined is demanding the Malaysian government abandon all attempts to throttle freedom of expression online, and overturn any plans to reinforce previous administrations’ archaic censorship laws.
Access Now and the #KeepItOn coalition call on authorities in Myanmar to immediately stop implementing internet shutdowns and abandon all efforts to pick and choose who should have internet access reinstated.
Access Now 19 February 2021 | 6:41 am
Access Now is deeply concerned about a precarious precedent set today,
19 February, limiting the right to freedom of expression online in Malaysia, after independent media outlet Malaysiakini was convicted by the country’s highest court for user comments published on its site.
The
Federal Court of Malaysia charged the media outlet’s operator, Mkini Dot Com Sdn Bhd, with contempt of court on a motion moved by the Attorney General relating to the outlet’s alleged failure to moderate five comments on its platform deemed to scandalize the judiciary, fining it RM 500,000 (approx. USD 123,548). The user comments had been deleted by Malaysiakini upon notification by the police.