Bersih, a coalition of 70 citizen groups, bristles over Fahmi’s claim it skipped MCMC briefing on social media licensing
Electoral reform group Bersih invited Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil to a public forum to discuss the licensing of social media platforms and internet messaging services.
The Bersih steering committee also expressed disappointment in Fahmi for discrediting those who were not present at the engagement sessions that the latter organised over the issue.
“For the record, Bersih is a coalition of 70 NGOs.
“While the Bersih leadership was in a solidarity walk with Teoh Beng Hock’s family on the day of the meeting, our member partners such as the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) attended and provided extensive input and recommendations,” it said in a statement today.
It added that the CIJ had requested for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to consider the following during the engagement sessions:
- Alternative models to regulate issues such as online scams and cyberbullying.
- More in-depth discussions with civil society organisations, especially in drafting the Code of Conduct for Social Media.
Yesterday, Fahmi told a press conference at his ministry that 79 bodies had been invited to engagement sessions but only 27 attended.
Aside from CIJ, attendees included the Bar Council, Article 19, Suara Rakyat Malaysia, United Nations Children’s Fund, National Union of Journalists Malaysia, Justice for Sisters, and Legal Dignity.
Muda and Gerakan Media Merdeka were among those absent.
The MCMC introduced a new regulatory framework for social media and internet messaging service providers, of which they must register for a class Application Service Provider licence before Dec 31.
Bersih further said that the government of the day has not considered repealing any draconian laws used to suppress freedom of speech.
“The unity government has not displayed any conviction or commitment to repealing or even amending the Sedition Act 1948, the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984, and the MCMC Act – instead, the administration seems keener on introducing legislation that further regulates speech and expression.
“Citizens are rightfully alarmed in our view – and we have not forgotten manifesto promises to repeal such regressive laws,” it said.
Before this, former Bersih chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan called the government “dictatorial” over its proposal to get social media and internet messaging services with at least eight million registered users to apply for a licence.
Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim defended Ambiga over the remark.
In a statement posted on X, Zaid said the test to determine how dictatorial a government is relies on whether it permits free speech and how often it uses the police to charge people with sedition.
It would also depend on whether the government is facing any major crisis to justify strict action and frequent police use, he added.
“On this test, the Madani govt that has a 2/3 majority and no crises to talk about, is much more dictatorial.
“So Ambiga is 100 percent right,” he said.