Civil society organizations and experts criticize Malaysia’s recent online laws, which include penalties that are several times harsher than existing ones, as a “fake media” law that has been proposed by the country’s leaders.  ,  ,  ,
The Communications and Multimedia Act ( CMA ) was amended on December 2 by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil in parliament.
For crimes that now result in fines of RM300, 000 and prison sentences of up to RM3 million, the proposed sanctions include fines of up to RM1 million and prison sentences of up to RM10 times.
According to reports website Scoop, the harsher punishments may use to 25 violations, with nine more offences introduced.  ,
For instance, a faith under Section 233, which deals with inappropriate use of the computer, could lead to a fine of RM500, 000 and imprisonment of two years, up from a great of RM50, 000 and a month’s prison now.  ,
Non-cessation of an exercise where a school license, such as a license to operate a telecommunications system or service, has been revoked is one of the new crimes. Violators may be fined up to RM500, 000 and jailed for up to five years.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has been given more authority than previously thought, according to other proposed amendments, with critics claiming that this gives the fee more control over censorship and allows for censorship.  ,
The government recently claimed that the introduction of new laws and the amendments to outdated ones were intended to stop net fraud, including cyberbullying, and child sexual crimes against children.
Next year, parliament is expected to deliberate the law’s article.  ,
Dr Benjamin Loh, a senior lecturer in advertising and communication at Taylor’s University, told CNA that the proposed modifications were “horrific”.
” These alterations are quite horrifying and call for a return to a more oppressive state where not only personal freedoms are violated, but also press freedoms and privacy rights are violated,” he said.  ,
For example, MCMC and its approved soldiers and agents are given the authority to search and acquire knowledge from service providers without guarantees such as the security of journalistic sources, according to Article 19 and the Centre for Independent Journalism ( CIJ), according to the proposed Area 73A.
” Many of the proposed crimes and infractions are worded in very abstract and unclear forms, leaving much room for interpretation, which in Malaysia’s history has allowed the government to administer ( them ) selectively and with little recourse to challenge”, added Dr Loh.
The proposed Part 51A, which gives the MCMC or somebody acting on its representative immunity from legal actions when acting “in good faith,” was referenced by Article 19 and the CIJ.  ,  ,  ,
In a statement released on December 3, they claimed that” this ouster clause, which includes a obscure and random notion like” good faith,” would allow abuse of power and lead to a gap in the accountability for human rights violations, allowing for impunity for those people officials.
” However, the possibility of arbitrary research without access to a treatment violates credited process, fair test and access to justice right”, they added.  ,  ,
Both parties expressed concern about the proposed sanctions.  ,
No justification for the increase in restrictions or a clear explanation for the decision to increase the fines and imprisonment was made, they claimed.