Online media guidelines ready, says Rais

The alternative press will from now on become the target of the government's rules governing the dissemination of information.

KUALA LUMPUR: The guidelines on laws governing the dissemination of information through the media, including the Internet will be tabled at the Cabinet meeting soon.

Information, Communications and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the guidelines covered the Sedition Act 1948, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

He said the guidelines, which were prepared by the Attorney-General’s Chambers, were endorsed by the Cabinet’s Special Committee to Strengthen the Government’s Communications Strategy chaired by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Nazri Abdul Aziz today.

“It does not involve tabling in Parliament as the laws already existed and the A-G’s Chambers has made the guidelines clearer,” Rais told reporters after witnessing the renewal of Kumpulan Utusan Malaysia (M) Bhd’s contract as the air time marketing agent of Radio Televisyen Malaysia here today.

He said the guidelines shed more light on the purpose of each Act and actions that could be taken against those who violated it.

“For example, we were told what can be done by the Home Ministry if Section 3, 5 or 8 of the Printing Presses Act and Publications Act is violated as well as the seditious tendency under the Sedition Act,” he added.

Rais said the guidelines should not be regarded as an Internet censorship and it also did not mean that anyone was at liberty to do anything on the Internet as actions could be taken on those who use it to spread false information.

“What is important is that bloggers or those who use the alternative media should remember that the laws remain in force no matter where they are.

“They are unscathed as law enforcers did not go after them. But from now onwards if complaints are made, actions will be taken against them,” he said.

- Bernama