(July 10): The Penang government today asked if the reminder not to “spread false information” by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) was an attempt to prevent the people from getting information on 1Malaysia Development Berhad.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the reminder, which was issued yesterday, appeared to be a scare tactic.
"Is this because Barisan Nasional leaders are linked to the scandal? Is this an attempt to close up the issue and prevent the people from understanding better what is going on?
"This reminder is against the principle of freedom of information. It is suppressing information freedom in cyberspace," he said, adding that MCMC was a body which supervised and regulated the Internet for the interest of the state, not the interest of the federal leadership.
Yesterday, MCMC posted the reminder on its Facebook page, urging social-media users to cease spreading modified photos, unsubstantiated news reports and any speculation about the ongoing probe into 1MDB, including the WhatsApp messaging app.
The government body also reminded the public that it was an offence to share or spread news containing false information about 1MDB under Section 211 or 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.
Lim today said that it was unnecessary for MCMC to issue such a reminder when the party accused could just take legal action if the accusations were untrue.
"Why when there are negative reports about BN leaders, the agency issues a notice like that? There are no such notices issued when there are negative reports concerning opposition leaders."
Lim said there were false allegations hurled against his son years ago, when the teen was accused of molesting a classmate.
At the time, he was only advised to lodge reports against the accusers and the matter ended there.
Since the reminder was posted, MCMC has come under heavy fire from social-media users and accused of trying to protect the controversial fund, which had amassed RM42 billion in debts over the last few years and allegedly transferred billions of ringgit into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal accounts before the last general election. – The Malaysian Insider