KUALA LUMPUR (June 16): The Ministry of Communications and Multimedia today said lawyer Eric Paulsen is no longer a member of the Communications and Multimedia Consultative Council.

The announcement follows outcry from certain quarters over Paulsen’s appointment to the 15-member council.

In the statement issued today, the ministry said the decision will not impact the function of the council, which was established on June 9 to serve as a platform for the government to get input from stakeholders on communications and multimedia policies.

“The council will continue to play its role of discussing with and advising the ministry in its approach and policies for issues related to communications and multimedia, in line with the objectives of the ministry,” the statement said.

Yesterday, a local news portal reported deputy communications and multimedia minister Datuk Zahidi Zainul Abidin as saying that Paulsen’s appointment was decided by Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah.

Zahidi, according to the report, said there was no discussion with him or the ministry’s secretary on the matter.

Paulsen, who is branded as a human rights lawyer, is also currently the Malaysian representative to the Asean Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights.

News of Paulsen’s appointment was swiftly followed by calls by members of the ruling coalition parties Umno and PAS to revoke the lawyer of the role, due to his strong comments on racial and religious matters in the country in the past.