The MCA has called for a review of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 (PPPA), which the government has indicated would be extended to cyberspace.
Party president Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek said he sympathised with the “anxiety” among journalists and media owners regarding the PPPA.
“Perhaps it is time for a review of the Act, which is necessary so that it does not give absolute power or discretion to the home minister in granting, refusing, suspending or revoking printing permits.
“There should be a panel to review the Act to ensure there is fairness towards the media owners who have invested hundreds of millions in machines and human resource development,” he said at the MCA media night at its headquarters here.
Dr Chua (picture) added that the panel should also look into ways to make it easier for investors to obtain permits to publish so that it has “greater transparency, accountability and fairness”.
“So, a review of the Act is something the MCA will support,” he said.
The law was enacted to defeat a communist insurrection in the late 1940s.
Reporting in the print media can be punished under the “national security” clause in the PPPA.
Also under the PPPA, inaccurate news is termed “false news” and is punishable with a one-year imprisonment.
In addition, print news organisations must secure annual licences that expire automatically at year-end and need to be applied for again to be able to continue publication.
The MCA also owns Malaysia’s largest-circulation English daily, The Star, and several radio and television stations in the same group of companies while Umno owns Media Prima Berhad and the Utusan Malaysia group.
The government also announced in mid-January a plan to control online media that sparked widespread protest from journalists and lawmakers who say the move is a sign of the ruling party’s desperation as it prepares for a highly speculated early general election.
The plan was to apply strict publication laws to online news media for “national security” reasons.
Dr Chua pointed out that he recognised the power of social media but was quick to add that it gives more opportunities to spread lies.
“Having said that, I still believe there should be a free flow of information over the Internet.
“We must have faith that eventually, the truth will prevail and people will not be so easily swayed by those who tell lies all the time,” he said.
Much of the anger and criticism against the Barisan Nasional government’s excesses and race-based politics is found in online news reporting.
There is also a 15-year-old government guarantee, still in force, not to suppress the Internet and its contents.
