The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) tried to ask Twitter to take down some posts that critisized the government but was rejected.
A twitter user claimed that he had received an email from the social media platform about a request that was made made by MCMC to remove his Tweets.
The email reads:
“In the interest of transparency, we are writing to inform you that Twitter has received a request from MCMC regarding your Twitter account that claims the following content violates the law(s) of Malaysia.
“We have not taken any action on the reported content at this time as a result of this request.”
The two posts by @BadBoy266 cited in the email were:
- Calling followers to mock a flood fundraising event that involved Women, Family and Community Development Minister Rina Harun.
- Criticising Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Minister Noh Omar over his statement regarding the eligibility of flood victims to claim government aid.
It turns out others have gotten this email from Twitter too.
In a statement, MCMC said that it has the responsibility to ensuring that online platforms comply with Malaysian laws, reported The Star.
The ministry said that it made the requests under Section 223 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for the sake of national interest.
In short the section says that a person who uses any application or service to comment, request, suggestion, or other communications which are obscene, indecent, false, menacing, or offensive in character with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person can be penalised with a fine not exceeding RM50,000, jailed for up to a year, or both.
Meanwhile DAP’s Lim Kit Siang has called on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to intervene and reprimand the MCMC for its attempts to quell criticism of the government, reported Malay Mail.
