DAP will organise nationwide protests to oppose any attempts by Putrajaya to ban or close down popular social networking site Facebook, citing the right for freedom of expression and the federal government's pledge of no Internet censorship. Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pic) said the party will oppose any attempts to put in place...
DAP will organise nationwide protests to oppose any attempts by Putrajaya to ban or close down popular social networking site Facebook, citing the right for freedom of expression and the federal government's pledge of no Internet censorship.
Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng (pic) said the party will oppose any attempts to put in place such "primitive proposal".
Communication and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek yesterday said in a statement that the Barisan Nasional-led federal government will undertake a study following suggestions to ban Facebook.
Lim said any move to block Facebook violates Putrajaya's guarantee of no internet censorship in Malaysia.
Malaysia has a 10-point Bill of Guarantees that include the guarantee of no censorship of the Internet, when the Multimedia Super Corridor was launched in the 1990s.
Lim said the proposed ban denies the right of freedom of expression by barring Malaysians to voice their views.
He said this after attending the party's central executive committee meeting today.
Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, felt such a move will deprive youth and the underprivileged to communicate with a tool that has proven to be affordable, accessible and convenient.
He warned the proposed curb will have an effect on the economy, destroying business opportunities that rely on Facebook, which could lead to losses up to billions of ringgit.
Suggestions that Facebook be blocked to curb abuse has drawn wide criticism, with many saying it will be a step backwards for the nation and is unlikely to solve the problem as users could turn to other social networking sites.
Shabery said that his ministry was in the process of gathering public feedback on the issue.
"If the people are of the opinion that Facebook should be banned, we are prepared to look into the matter but it is a radical approach."
His remarks came on the heels of a report of a man who had insulted Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah on Facebook. It was reported that the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission was working with police to track down the individual.
On another matter, Lim also condemned the use of Sedition Act to persecute its leaders.
The latest leader to be probed under the Act is party parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang for a speech he wrote in conjunction with the 5th death anniversary of former DAP aide Teoh Beng Hock. –
August 10, 2014
http://news.malaysia.msn.com/tmi/dap-will-stage-protest-against-any-attempted-ban-on-facebook
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