Azalina calls for emergency Parliament sitting to amend cyber laws

PETALING JAYA: Newly appointed minister Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said has called for changes to laws to ensure a tighter control on social media.

The Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department said an emergency Parliamentar sitting should be convened to amend various laws governing Internet and media usage such as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

"I fully support what our Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said on the issue of slander on social media earlier today.

"These changes need to be made because of the lies which have poisoned the minds of the people resulting in a negative perception towards the Government," she said in a statement on Sunday.

The Pengerang MP added that social media is being used as a medium to abuse freedom of speech, which is against the principle of democracy.

Earlier, Najib had said that if slander on social media is allowed to fester, it would alter the thinking paradigm of the people and create a state of "trial by social media".

"When faced with trial by social media, we, as members of the administration will be declared guilty before trial.

"But when it comes to the opposition, it is all considered defamation, not considered as the truth. Is this not weird?" he had said when opening the Hulu Selangor Umno division delegates meeting at Kuala Kubu Baru.