MCMC must not practice double standards
On August 7 this year this year, I had lodged a police report about an article titled “ Cina Pun Mahu Duit Zakit –Teresa Kok” which appeared in a few internet websites.
The article among other things has maliciously and falsely accused me of having issued a statement which says that the Muslims ‘ zakat money collected in Selangor should be distributed to Chinese as Chinese in Selangor too pay taxes. It also accused me of having urged Jabatan Agama Islam Selangor (JAIS) to handover the money to me to help the Chinese in Selangor.
The few internet websites involved campaigned for BN during the Kuala Besut by election and among them which first carried the article were Bnbesut.blogspot.com and Blog” Boikot Barangan Cina DAP .”
On August 12, I had lodged an official complaint with the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
On August 14, I received a reply from MCMC which says that MCMC will be reviewing the content provided on the reported websites(s) and will be taking the necessary actions based on the provisions allowed under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
I had also submitted a parliamentary question asking the Communication and Multimedia Minister to explain why quick action was taken on the complaint made against the Alvivi and Vivien “Bak Kut Teh’ case whereas no such action was taken on my complaint against bloggers who had defamed me.
Yesterday I received a written parliamentary reply where it was explained that Alvivi and Vivian’s case involved public sentiment and had great impact on Malaysian society. The reply says that priority was given to maintain national stability and harmony.
The Minister explained that my case is a personal attack involving two parties. He also said my case is more inclined towards civil suit where the aggrieved party needs to take action against the other party (Kes ini merupakan serangan peribadi yang melibatkan dua pihak. Kes sebegini lebih menjurus kepada tindakan sivil dimana yang difitnah perlu tampil membuat tuntutan terhadap palaku tersebut.)
I find the Minister’s reply shocking, illogical and even irresponsible. It also shows that the MCMC practices double standards.
It is so clear that the lie made prior to Hari Raya Puasa has the intention to incite racial and religious hatred against me. How could MCMC say that this is a personal attack involving two parties?
What is also unacceptable is the fact that MCMC which is empowered to take action against such spreading of malicious lie in the website has said that my case will require a civil suit.
Is this a new liberal philosophy of MCMC – giving space and freedom to bloggers and websites to spread malicious lies?
In any case, how can anyone defamed by blogger take civil action if MCMC is not even prepared to reveal the identities of website owners?
Yesterday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Datuk Paul Low said that all ministries will be establishing an enhanced complaint management system by July next year to ensure all public complaints are resolved efficiently, fairly and effectively.
Sometimes a complainant does not obtain justice is not because of problems of procedures etc but the double standards practiced.
I will lodge a complaint with the Public Complaints Bureau soon to ensure that MCMC deals with my complaint efficiently, fairly and effectively.
Below is the parliamentary answer to my question:
PEMBERITAHUAN PERTAYAAN DEWAN RAKYAT
PERTANYAAN : JAWAB LISAN
DARIPADA : PUAN TERESA KOK SUH SIM [SEPUTEH]
TARIKH : 24 SEPTEMBER 2013
SOALAN : 57
Puan Teresa Kok Suh Sim [Seputeh] meminta MENTERI KOMUNIKASI DAN MULTIMEDIA menyatakan tindakan pantas terhadap aduan tentang blogger Alvivi dan Vivian yang berbuka puasa dengan “Bak Kut Teh” manakala tidak mengambil tindakan tegas dan cepat terhadap blogger yang melemparkan tuduhan palsu bahawa saya mendesak wang zakat diberi kepada Orang Cina. Apakah “response time” Suruhanjaya terhadap aduan tuduhan berunsur sensitif di Internet.
JAWAPAN:
Tuan Yang di-Pertua,
Kementerian melalui Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) mengambil maklum dan telah mengambil langkah sewajarnya ke atas kes tersebut. Hasil penelitian dan penilaian awal mendapati bahawa aduan terhadap blogger Alvivi dan Vivian melibatkan sentiment umum dan mempengaruhi masyarakat secara menyeluruh di Negara ini. Memandangkan kes ini membawa impak yang besar kepada ketenteraman awam, keutamaan telah diberikan kepada kes tersebut demia menjaga kestabilan dan keharmonian Negara.
Bagi aduan mengenai tuduhan palsu yang dikeluarkan terhadap YB Seputeh, pihak Kementerian dan SKMM berpandangan bahawa kes ini merupakan serangan peribadi yang melibatkan dua pihak. Kes sebegini lebih menjurus kepada tindakan sivil di mana pihak yang fitnah perlu tampil membuat tuntutan terhadap pelaku tersebut.
Secara dasarnya, “response time” yang ditetapkan oleh kemeterian dan SKMM adalah tiga hingga tujuh hari selepas aduan diterima. Walau bagaimanapun, terdapat kes yang memerlukan “response time” yang lebih lama bergantung kepada tahap kerumitan kes tersebut. Sebagai contoh, bagi kes yang melibatkan data berpengkalan di luar negara, pihak Kementerian dan SKMM harus memohon kepada pemilik data seperti Facebook/Google untuk mendapatkan maklumat terlebih dahulu sebelum siasatan lanjut dibuat.
