CIJ’s Response to Communications and Digital Minister’s Statements, 20 February 2023

CIJ notes the statement by the Minister of Communications and Digital, including on the intention to amend the Communications and Multimedia Acts 1998 (CMA) in an effort to overcome unethical journalism and to refine its regulatory framework.

It is indeed critical to ensure that any attempts to amend the CMA, is to strengthen, and not undermine freedom of speech or media freedom in Malaysia. We urge the Minster to ensure a multi stakeholder engagement is undertaken in the review of CMA, with this principle in mind.

While we do agree with YB Fahmi Fadzil on the importance of ethical and responsible reporting, we do not however believe that achieving such fair and unbiased journalism will be achieved through the adoption of stricter laws or policies.

It is more critical to push ahead with the establishment of the Malaysian Media Council, as a transparent and self-regulatory body for the industry in order to maintain the highest ethical standards and code of conduct. The Media Council will also provide the necessary dispute resolution process that meets the needs of the industry as well as place the public’s interest at the heart of any resolution.

With regards to disinformation, we recommend that the ministry collaborate with existing initiatives, including Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), to improve independent inoculating measures and factcheck mechanisms, to effectively debunk false and misleading narratives before they become viral. Moreover, the government should focus its efforts on media and digital literacy, and dissemination of public information countering the alleged mis- and disinformation, and not merely focus on use of law or regulation.

The 15th General Elections showed that social media platforms were used as a tool for political gains through the dissemination of disinformation and hate speech. Hence, the government should continue strategic engagement with social media platforms, and with multi-stakeholder experts, to strengthen and ensure effective responses in situations of disinformation and hate speech.

Wathshlah Naidu
Executive Director,
Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) Malaysia