A LAWYERS group today slammed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for threatening to prosecute media outlets for publishing “disrespectful” or “misleading” news.

Lawyers for Liberty campaign coordinator Nabila Khairuddin said the Federal Constitution guarantees freedom of speech.

She said the freedom could only be restricted in the interests of security, public order, and morality.

“We call upon the government to uphold the right of the press to report freely and independently on matters of public interest,” she said in a statement. 

The MCMC has threatened to invoke the Communications and Multimedia Act to prosecute news agencies who are “disrespectful” or “misleading” in their reportage.

She said it is unconstitutional of the MCMC to restrict press freedom on those grounds.

“This is therefore deliberate intimidation and a dangerous assault by the MCMC on media that is critical of the government. Suppressing dissenting and critical press is the hallmark of authoritarian rule. 

“For the MCMC to arbitrarily talk of restricting ‘disrespectful’ or ‘misleading’ news shows a complete lack of regard for the law and lack of respect for the Constitution.”

Nabila asked who would be the arbiter of truth and respect.

“To allow the government to decide this would set us on the road to dictatorship. 

“In fact, it is the role of the press to independently hold government to account while enabling the public to be more informed and engaged in the decisions and policies that affect them. 

“It is certainly not the role of the media in a democratic nation to be respectful of the government or the prime minister.”

She said the government must stop using MCMC and other regulatory agencies to restrict and curtail criticism of the authorities. 

“Should the government deem any reporting as inaccurate or misleading, it would be prudent for the government to rebut it by issuing a public statement and correct the alleged inaccurate information. 

“What they cannot do is to prosecute or punish or shut down news organisations for publishing ‘inaccurate’ news.”

Nabila added that instead of trying to stifle the flow of information, the government should embrace the internet. 

“The duty of the government is not to restrict free speech but to uphold that right consistent with the Constitution.” – September 24, 2023.