Malaysia’s Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is facing fresh accusations of curbing press freedom after Facebook restricted access to content from independent news outlet The Coverage Media within the country.
The move was first highlighted by human rights lawyer Siti Kasim and activist Iswardy Morni, who shared screenshots showing that Facebook had limited the page’s visibility in Malaysia following a legal request from MCMC. The regulator reportedly cited violations of local laws, though specifics were not disclosed.
“Reformist government breaking its promises”
Siti Kasim sharply criticized the Madani government, which came to power on a platform of democracy, reform, and institutional integrity. She said the administration is “quickly abandoning its promises” by tightening control over free speech and targeting dissenting voices.
“We’re seeing a worrying pattern,” she said. “Critics, activists, journalists — even ordinary people — are facing investigations, arrests, and intimidation for speaking up.”
She emphasized that freedom of expression is not a privilege handed out by the government but a fundamental right guaranteed under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution. “It should not be enforced selectively, or only when it’s politically convenient,” she added.
Concerns over legal tools
Siti Kasim also questioned the government’s repeated use of the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act and the 1948 Sedition Act to police public commentary. The reliance on these laws, she argued, raises doubts about whether real reform is taking place or if old methods of silencing dissent are simply continuing under new slogans.
“A government that cannot tolerate criticism is not strong — it’s insecure. A government that treats dissent as a threat is not democratic; it’s sliding toward authoritarianism,” she said.
She called the situation “extremely hypocritical,” noting that the current leadership had championed freedom before taking office, only to suppress it afterward.
Calls to end censorship
According to Siti Kasim, Malaysians voted for genuine change — not just cosmetic shifts, but “a real move toward openness, accountability, and respect for basic rights.”
She urged the government to stop “weaponizing the law” and censoring speech, warning that “freedom of speech is not the enemy of stability. Silencing the people’s voices is.”
Source: Siti Kassim
