English Forum:

SILENCING CYBERSPACE - THE FINAL FRONTIER? 

This forum is part of a event by the Democratic Action Party (DAP) to promote and protect the freedom of expression by the Malaysian civil society, particularly on the Internet. 

As of today, we have the Printing and Publications Act 1984which provides that it is a criminal offense to possess or use a printing press without a licence granted by the Home Affairs Minister. The Minister is given "absolute discretion" in the granting and revocation of licences, which is required to be renewed on a yearly basis.  

We do not require such an Act to govern us in the cyberspace.  The Bill of Guarantees of the Multimedia Super Corridor project assures us, Malaysians, and the world that there will be no censorship of the Internet. 

Hence DAP believes that it is important to protect the civil society's rights to express fair-minded views, opinions and commentaries on the Internet.  The cyberspace is arguably Malaysia's final frontier for freedom of expression. 

Instead of making veiled threats in the news media or through our legal system, which appears to be increasingly prevalent, to silence the cyberspace, we hope that our Government will play its part to promote responsible freedom of expression on the Internet. 

The panel of distinguished speakers for the forum include: 

●    Mr Yeo Yang Poh, Chairman of the Malaysian Bar Council

●    Mr Jeff Ooi, Pioneer Malaysian Blogger

●    Ms Sonia Randhawa, Executive Director, Centre for Independent Journalism

●    Mr Lim Kit Siang, Parliamentary Opposition Leader

●    Mr Lim Guan Eng, Secretary-General of DAP

The details of the forum are as follows: 

Date: 6 February2007 (Tuesday)

Time: 7.30 pm

Venue: KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall 

We look forward to Malaysian expressing their support to protect the freedom of expression on the Internet at the forum.