Latest news with #CommunicationsandMultimediaAct
Daily Express
10 hours ago
- Daily Express
Man claims trial to making offensive FB comments on Nurul Izzah
Published on: Friday, June 20, 2025 Published on: Fri, Jun 20, 2025 By: FMT Reporters Text Size: Ruslan Mat Ali at the Sepang sessions court today. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA: A 48-year-old man claimed trial in the Sepang sessions court today to 11 charges of making offensive comments on Facebook against former MP Nurul Izzah Anwar earlier this year. Ruslan Mat Ali, a father of three, pleaded not guilty before judge Ahmad Fuad Othman after the charges were read, Harian Metro reported. Advertisement In making his plea, he claimed he had dropped his handphone while fishing and had no idea how the Facebook comments were made. He was accused of knowingly using his Facebook account to send offensive comments against Nurul Izzah with the intention of annoying others. He was charged with committing the offences between Jan 2 and Feb 26. The charges were framed under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act, punishable by a maximum RM50,000 fine, up to one year's imprisonment, or both, upon conviction. Advertisement Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab asked the court to fix bail at RM15,000. However, Ruslan, who was unrepresented, sought a lower bail amount, saying he had no income, was divorced, and had to look after three children. The judge granted bail of RM10,000 and fixed July 18 for mention. Ruslan failed to post bail and was placed under remand until the next court date. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
New Straits Times
12 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
Edisi Siasat blocked on Telegram, returns as 'Edisi Siasat 2.0' within hours
KUALA LUMPUR: The Telegram channel Edisi Siasat, which has been publishing crime-related content, was blocked in Malaysia last night. The channel, with 1.8 million followers, was blocked after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) said it had obtained an interim injunction to prevent the republication of content from it and another channel, Edisi Khas. However, another channel, Edisi Siasat 2.0, was created last night, producing content similar to Edisi Siasat. The New Straits Times has reached out to MCMC for comment. Yesterday, MCMC said the two channels had published content in breach of the Communications and Multimedia Act. It said the injunction was a last resort to stop the spread of harmful content and to prevent the republication of similar material. The commission added that this is the first action of its kind taken against a social media platform provider, specifically because Telegram holds a Class Application Service Provider (ASP(C)) licence. The move follows Telegram's repeated failure to address content that has been reported to the platform numerous times, despite various negotiation efforts and cooperation extended by MCMC.
Focus Malaysia
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
MCA should treat gutsy Wong Siew Mun as Malaysia's icon of free speech, its ‘poster girl'
PUBLIC perception of MCA as an advocate in championing free speech has skyrocketed of late in tandem with its Pahang Youth chief Wong Siew Mun being summoned to Bukit Aman for disputing a request from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to telcos to collect mobile phone data. For that reason, she was being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 respectively for allegedly causing public alarm with the circulation of a statement and misusing network facilities. As MCA president Datuk Seri Wee Ka Siong has pledged to stand firmly with her – and even to provide her with legal assistance – Wong has suddenly found herself endeared to Madani government doubters as a fighter of people's right to freedom of expression. In fact, her courageous action in light of rife speculation of MCA exiting the Barisan Nasional (BN) coalition has given the grand old party of Malaysian Chinese a glimmer of hope to rejuvenate its 'tarnished-beyond-repair' reputation. Articulate with good command of Bahasa Malaysia, the 35-year-old who lost to DAP's Lee Chin Chen in the Bilut state seat contest during the 15th General Election (GE15) has charmed many pro-opposition voices who have begun to look up to MCA to replace the once firebrand DAP who is now a pale shadow of its former self. Interestingly, Wong whose trip to Bukit Aman on June 18 was featured in a video clip on the Facebook of opposition-slant blogger and political activist Ratu Naga received all-rounded applause for daring to 'tear apart the Madani government'. Berated at DAP, some commenters who are charmed with Wong's educated and professional poise even expect MCA to turn the table on DAP which they still perceive as 'seemingly communist and racist'. Only time will tell if MCA can turn over a new leaf by being the eye, ear, nose and mouth for check and balance – and mostly to fill the void created by the so-called 'fang-less' DAP ever since the latter become part of the Madani establishment. The bottom line is whether such role is more easily executed outside the realm of BN which is now a close ally of the Madani administration. – June 20, 2025
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- New Straits Times
Woman charged over fake royal marriage certificate uploaded on TikTok
KUALA LUMPUR: A masseuse who had an arrest warrant issued against her last month for skipping court was brought before the Sessions Court today to face a charge of uploading a falsified marriage certificate involving herself and a member of a royal family on TikTok. Persana Avril Sollunda, 43, was arrested by Bukit Aman's Classified Crimes Investigation Unit at her workplace in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, yesterday. During proceedings today, Persana pleaded not guilty after the charge was read out to her before Judge Norma Ismail. She confirmed that she understood the charge. "I want to go on trial," she told the court. According to the charge, she used a TikTok account under the handle " to create and upload a video containing a doctored image of a false marriage certificate involving a member of the royal family and Crown Princess Ratu Shana. She allegedly committed the offence on Feb 25 with the intent to annoy others. The post was accessed at about 10am on Feb 26 at the Cyber Crime and Multimedia Investigation Division of Bukit Aman's Commercial Crime Investigation Department, located at Menara KPJ in Wangsa Maju. The charge under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act punishable under Section 233(3) provides a maximum RM500,000 fine or a jail term not exceeding two years or both upon conviction. It also imposes an additional fine of RM5,000 for each day the offence continues after conviction. Deputy public prosecutor Nursyuhada Husna Sulaiman urged the court to set bail at RM20,000 with one surety and requested a date for document submission. Persana, who was unrepresented, said she needed her "escort" from Sabah to assist with the bail process. She also attempted to speak on other matters but was instructed by the judge to focus solely on her bail appeal. In response, Persana said she had nothing further to add. Norma set bail at RM10,000 with one surety and ordered Persana to report to the police station once a month. The judge also directed her to appoint legal representation and set July 17 for mention.
New Straits Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Transparency remains the issue when it comes to digital governance
Malaysia's digital governance is at a crossroads, navigating a delicate balance between epistemic sovereignty and potential government surveillance. Epistemic sovereignty pertains to the imperative of ensuring that its digital policies, historical narratives, and governance models are formulated by Malaysians themselves, rather than being prescribed by Western technology conglomerates, global institutions, or prevailing foreign ideologies. This encompasses the methodologies employed in data collection, processing, and regulation, as well as the shaping of media, education and national discourse. The question is no longer just about data security — but who holds the power to shape reality, Malaysia's digital governance has undergone significant changes over the years, with the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) of 1998 initially designed to foster a dynamic digital economy while promoting responsible online content management. Over time, however, regulatory mechanisms have been expanded, leading to greater intervention in cyberspace. The recent introduction of the Data Sharing Act 2025 exemplifies this shift. Designed to facilitate cross-agency access to anonymised datasets, the act aims to streamline governance and improve infrastructure planning. Yet, critics warn that such data-sharing mechanisms could be repurposed beyond their initial scope, opening the door for expanded digital oversight. History has shown that when governments gain access to large-scale data, it often leads to broader surveillance under the pretext of security or public order. Social media, a critical space for political discourse, has also come under increasing scrutiny. Misinformation, fake news and cyber slander pose undeniable risks to national stability. In response, Malaysia has tightened regulations governing social media platforms, requiring greater cooperation from tech companies in moderating harmful content. There is also growing concern that misinformation laws could become instruments of censorship, restricting dissent and alternative viewpoints. Amid growing concerns over data collection, Malaysia's major telecommunications companies have reaffirmed their commitment to customer privacy. A few telcos have issued statements clarifying that any data shared with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is strictly anonymised and does not contain personally identifiable information. These assurances align with Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil's statement that the government's request for mobile phone call data is solely for evidence-based policymaking and does not involve tracking individual identities. Nevertheless, critics argue that once large-scale data collection mechanisms are established, they can be expanded beyond their original purpose, potentially leading to greater oversight of online activities. The challenge for Malaysia is ensuring that data governance remains transparent and accountable. Malaysia's commitment to epistemic sovereignty — its capacity to regulate the generation and circulation of knowledge within its borders — has emerged as a pivotal element of its overarching geopolitical strategy within the Global South. Yet, the push for digital independence must be accompanied by institutional safeguards to prevent the erosion of fundamental freedoms. As Malaysia strengthens its own digital frameworks, the challenge is in ensuring that its pursuit of sovereignty does not align with authoritarian tendencies. The future of Malaysia's digital policies depends on its ability to balance governance with public trust. If epistemic sovereignty is to be a force for national empowerment rather than an instrument for suppression, several critical steps must be taken. First, transparency must be a cornerstone of digital governance. The government must publicly disclose the full scope of its data collection protocols, ensuring that anonymisation measures remain intact and protected from misuse. Second, independent oversight is imperative. Non-partisan commissions must be instituted to scrutinise government-led digital policies, ensuring that misinformation statutes do not metamorphose into instruments of political manipulation. A governance paradigm that prioritises public accountability will be instrumental in preserving trust in the state's management of digital liberties. Thirdly, Malaysia must disentangle data surveillance from misinformation regulation. While deceptive narratives and cyber propaganda represent legitimate threats, digital governance must guarantee that misinformation laws do not unduly suppress alternative perspectives. For Malaysia to truly establish an independent and transparent digital governance model, it must ensure that its digital policies empower open discourse rather than stifle it. Sovereignty should not equate to heightened state control over narratives but rather facilitate an environment where information can flow freely within a framework of accountability. The question remains whether Malaysia will embrace a transparent and democratic approach to epistemic sovereignty or whether its digital landscape will increasingly reflect patterns of state-led oversight seen across other nations. The coming years will determine whether Malaysia's digital future aligns with open governance or moves toward centralised control — a decision that will shape the nation's standing in the global discourse on digital freedom.
