The Penang state government is deeply shocked that Malaysiakini’s sister company KiniTV and its two directors Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran will be charged under Section 244(1) of the CMA in the Special Cyber Court. This is the first time that person or a company is charged for annoying a political appointee by recording a video clip that called for the Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali’s resignation.
The offence is punishable with a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. An additional fine of RM1,000 per day is also imposed for each day the offence is continued upon conviction. Charging KiniTV and its two directors is not only an attack on the principles of press freedom and the right of journalists to do their jobs without harassment, but also democratic accountability of public officials.
Charging Malaysiakini would appear to be treating criticisms personally when the Attorney-General should realise that he is not above such criticism in carrying out his public duties. If that is the case then everyone should be charged under the CMA, not only for annoying the AG but also annoying political leaders. Our society would rapidly descend and spiral downwards to George Orwell’s 1984.
If Malaysiakini can be charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act(CMA) for uploading two videos that are “offensive in nature with intent to annoy” the Attorney-General, can BN news media networks like TV3 be charged for doing the same against me as Penang Chief Minister? Action must be taken action against BN news media like TV3 because failure to do so would display not only double-standards, but an unfortunate impression that only anti-BN leaders and opposition political parties are targetted.
DAP urges BN to let good sense, rationality and reason to prevail by immediately withdrawing such unjustified charges against KiniTV and its two directors. After all defamation suits can be filed in courts for such offensive or insulting remarks and there is no need for criminal proceedings. In view that similar charges are not made against those who attack Penang government leaders, the state government is willing to offer assistance to KiniTV and the two directors in fighting such unwarranted charges against them.