KUALA LUMPUR – Government backbencher Hassan Abdul Karim, known for occasionally criticising the government for its shortcomings, is defending it against Datuk Ambiga Sreenevasan’s “dictator” accusation over the proposed licensing of social media companies.
In a Facebook post, the Pasir Gudang MP acknowledged the government could be criticised for its plan to licence foreign-based social media companies under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998, but he argued that labelling the government as dictatorial for this move is “excessive and unfair.”
“Although I realise that this government has its flaws, (I am) confident (in saying) that this (Prime Minister Datuk Seri) Anwar Ibrahim-led government is not a dictatorial one.
“As someone who has been involved in politics from my undergraduate years until my senior years and championed democracy and free speech, I reject (the claim) that the Anwar-led government is a dictatorial one,” said the PKR lawmaker.
Hassan questioned how the government could be given such a label when it has never suspended Parliament by declaring an emergency, unlike the Perikatan Nasional government in 2021, and when it regularly debates reports issued by the Auditor-General, Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia (Suhakam) in Parliament.
“How can the current government be (labelled) dictator when its candidates lost badly in the Sg Bakap by-election three weeks ago?
“Would a dictatorial government allow its party candidates to lose badly at Sg Bakap and Kemaman by-elections?
“So please, Ambiga. Be cautious in making accusations against the government.
“Reprimand and criticise the government for all its shortcomings. But to accuse (it as) dictatorial is just too excessive,” he added
In a post on X, Ambiga, a former chairman of the electoral watchdog group Bersih, expressed her disappointment, stating that she had never expected to see a Pakatan Harapan-led government impose social media licensing laws and retain the Printing Presses and Publications Act after advocating for its abolition.
“Unity government, we can now crown you the most dictatorial government we have ever had. Well done,” she said.
Putrajaya announced last week that it would require all social media platforms to be licensed under the CMA 1998 to hold them accountable and curb the rising cases of cybercrimes, particularly sexual crimes against children and online fraud in Malaysia, which have become increasingly alarming.
However, the government’s move has drawn criticism from rights groups, who have expressed concerns that the licensing move could lead to government censorship, stifling freedom of expression. – July 30, 2024
