KUALA LUMPUR, June 8 — Communications and Multimedia Ministry deputy director-general Mastura Ahmad Mustaffa today confirmed that the government is working with several stakeholders to review the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998.
Speaking during the World Press Freedom 2022 forum, she said the government is looking to update a few provisions under the law and to ensure the people can enjoy their freedom of speech and expression responsibly.
“I would like to highlight that the MCMC Act, which falls under the ministry, is currently undergoing a review process.
“The ministry has held several consultative engagements with different stakeholders in examining the suitability of provisions under the Act in ensuring the safety of the public while also ensuring that it does not stifle the rights of citizens to enjoy their freedom of speech and expression,” she said.
In the same event, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Datuk Seri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said that the media should not face restrictions when reporting but must use this freedom responsibly.
He urged the media to hold firmly to accuracy in reporting in order to avoid misinformation and publishing fake news.
Last year, Communications and Multimedia Minister Tan Sri Annuar Musa announced that the provisions on cybersecurity especially need to be reviewed as it had been over 20 years since the law was made.
Earlier today, the Embassy of Netherlands in Malaysia, the United Nations (UN), and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) co-organised a forum in conjunction with World Press Freedom Day 2022 that was themed “Journalism Under Digital Siege”.
* A previous version of this story contained an error which has since been corrected.
