The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has condemned what it described as the Perikatan Nasional government’s attempt to silence dissent.
This came after blogger Dian Abdullah was today charged at the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) for sharing offensive and menacing content.
She was also charged under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code for making statements that could cause public mischief.
This was over two blog postings she made touching on Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and Yang di-Pertuan Agong Sultan Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.
“As a freedom of expression watchdog, we are concerned with the recent spike in charges under Section 233 of the CMA.
“The government must stop charging and investigating individuals under regressive laws such as this section for voicing dissent against the state and public authorities,” CIJ executive director Wathshlah Naidu said in a statement.
Dian posted bail of RM4,000 for each charge. She was represented by lawyer L Hamsagayathri.
Human rights group Suaram had also previously raised concerns that the new PN government was adopting BN era tactics against dissenters.
It said among the incidents was the police investigation against journalists Tashny Sukumaran who had written about the arrest of undocumented migrants and the probe against Kuala Langat MP Xavier Jayakumar under the Sedition Act 1948.
Other incidents include the use of Section 233 of the CMA against Centre to Combat Corruption Cronyism (C4) founder Cynthia Gabriel and Malaysian Crime Watch Task Force (MyWatch) chair R Sri Sanjeevan.
Sungai Buloh MP R Sivarasa yesterday also revealed that he was being investigated for police over a comment he made last year.
Wathshlah said restrictions and limits on the freedom of expression must meet a harm test to determine legitimacy, necessity and proportionality.
“Criminalising content that could potentially challenge and attempt to hold the state to account is grossly disproportionate to any legitimate aim of protecting public order.
“We need an enabling environment that promotes critical thinking and healthy debates that would uphold democracy and good governance.
“It is time that we reject actions of the state to silence dissenting voices so that freedom of expression and speech can flourish in Malaysia,” Wathshlah said.
Source: Malaysiakini