Malaysia plans to amend Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to cope with 'unethical journalism'

The Malaysia Communications and Digital Ministry is planning to amend the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, also known as Act 588, to cope with "unethical journalism".

Head of the ministry, Fahmi Fadzil, said at a press conference in the parliament that the amendments seek to refine its current regulatory framework, especially in terms of security and reliability, while clarifying that he does not aim to diminish freedom of speech. 

The ministry’s plans to make amendments to Act 588 were reaffirmed by the snafu that involved inaccurate reporting on local television channel Awesome TV. According to Malaysiakini, Awesome TV’s news segment, Berita 757, had manipulated reports stating the possible axing of civil servants in Malaysia, from 1.6m to 800k. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) launched an investigation against the channel, because it failed to comply with the conditions of its license.

In his address to the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, Fahmi reinforced that news reporting should often be balanced in order to avoid possibility of defamation. He said that while he understands the importance of confidentiality in journalism, achieving a balance is necessary. “Maybe this is a discussion (to be had) between media practitioners and the authorities to find a common ground for the matter,” he added.

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This is not the first time that Fahmi has enforced the importance of accurate reporting. In December last year, netizens were spreading a fake Twitter screenshot on Facebook, which led to others accusing the minister of being a free-speech naysayer. He issued a statement on his Facebook saying the move was an "evil slander" by an irresponsible party, and netizens should be checking facts before spreading it. Earlier this month, the minister issued a statement at a media conference regarding his position on free speech. He spoke in defence of it, with the caveat being that it should be within the limits of existing laws.

Fahmi said that what is spoken in the name of free-speech should “have a basis and can be defended in court". To ensure a balance between free speech and abiding by legal boundaries, Fahmi mentioned the ministry’s commitment to closely cooperating with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and social media platform operators in order to discuss concerns over misinformation, extremist content an d its regulatory framework. According to The Star, Fahmi said that free speech should not be used to make baseless accusations or defamatory purposes.

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