DAP national publicity secretary says MCMC’s intention is to frighten and threaten all news portals into compliance.
PETALING JAYA: Blocking access to The Malaysian Insider is “a blatant show of naked force” to not only shut down “misbehaving” news sites, but also to frighten and threaten all other news portals into submission and compliance, said DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua.
He called on the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to lift the block on all news portals.
“That will not only return Malaysia to some semblance of the rule of law, but also prevent a further drain in confidence in the country by local and foreign investors, which will crush our fragile economy today.”
The MCMC confirmed earlier that it had restricted access to The Malaysian Insider today for carrying unverified reports. Those trying to access the portal saw the message that it was “not available in Malaysia because it violates national law.”
MCMC also advised other news portals to exercise caution when carrying reports that may lead to confusion or give rise to unwanted situations.
Pua said never had the media in Malaysia faced a greater onslaught than it faced today after the dark days of Operasi Lalang when The Star, Sin Chew Jit Poh and Watan were suspended on October 29, 1987.
“The government has gotten increasingly brazen abusing its powers by previously blocking whistleblower websites, such as The Sarawak Report and even the Medium channel for publishing The Sarawak Report news.
“It has previously blocked the Bersih.org website and, more recently, the anti-establishment Malaysia Chronicle blog.
“The latest block against the mainstream news portal The Malaysian Insider is clearly a sign the government is upping the ante against any news outlets deemed to provide free and fair coverage of politics and Malaysia.
“Worse, the MCMC has blatantly flouted the very laws it claims to protect by taking action against the website without even any charges pressed against them.”
Pua, who is also Petaling Jaya Utara MP, regretted the increasing attempts by the government to tear down the fourth estate, a critical pillar to check and keep in balance those in power.
He said this was a bid by the government “to put a lid on a barrel of crawling worms.”
“It would only go to demonstrate how we are closer to a banana republic than we think we are.
“The world will now see us in our full naked glory, how Malaysia is run by an utterly corrupt and shameless regime.”
-FMT NEWS-
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