KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 110 investigation papers have been opened under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 so far this year, the Dewan Rakyat was told.
According to the Home Ministry, all the cases, under Section 7(1) of the Act, are still under investigation.
"The Act is the main legal instrument enacted to regulate the use of printing presses, printing, importation, production, publication and distribution of printed matter in this country," it said in a parliamentary written reply dated Tuesday (June 23).
The ministry said the Act is under review to ensure that it remains progressive, sustainable and relevant with current times, while prioritising national security and public harmony.
Any amendment would have to pass the "necessary and appropriate" test under Article 10(2)(a) of the Constitution, while protecting the right to free speech and to information under Article 10(1)(a), it added.
Section 7(1) of the Act gives the Home Minister absolute discretion to ban any publication deemed prejudicial to public order, security, or morality.
Among recent uses, in April, the ministry banned two books published by Gerakbudaya for reportedly containing elements of communism.
The ministry said the Constitution did not grant absolute freedom of speech, and allowed Parliament to impose restrictions in the interest of security and public order.
Free speech was a means to truth and public well-being rather than an end in itself, the ministry said, and the government had a duty to regulate it when it was used to disrupt the peace or incite hatred.
Teresa Kok (PH-Seputeh) had asked about the number of cases under the Act and whether or not the government would review the law in order to protect freedom of speech.
