THE amendment to the Evidence Act 1950 that could now implicate platform hosts over comments made online should be revoked, says Deputy Higher Education Minister Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah (pic).
He told The Malay Mail yesterday the move was against the government's promise made during former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's reign over no internet censorship.
Saifuddin said they could give way to the perception that the government was about to practise a clampdown on online freedom.
"It also contradicts the progressive thoughts that are being undertaken by the Prime Minister in the political transformation agenda. The (amendments) were rushed in parliament during the final day of the session in April."
The Temerloh Member of Parliament said he doubted if proper consultation was made even with Barisan Nasional MPs in the Parliament regarding the amendments.
"I seriously doubt whether proper consultation was made with organisations that represent the industry and also the stakeholders."
Saifuddin said the amendments to the Act had turned the common notion for turning the law upside down.
"Normally, we say someone is innocent until proven guilty. But with this law, someone is guilty until proven innocent. So the onus is on the individual to prove that he or she is innocent."
He said revoking the bill would not be unprecedented and it could be done.
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Talk on Limited Liability Partnerships (21 May 2013) Organised by the Bar Council Professional Standards and Development Committee, this talk by Anand Raj and Wong Tat Chung will be held at 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 21 May 2013 (Tuesday). The talk carries two CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
International Arbitration Conference by CIArb Malaysia (22 to 24 Aug 2013) Organised by the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, this conference will be held at Eastern & Oriental Hotel, 10 Lebuh Farquhar, 10200 George Town, Penang, from 22 to 24 Aug 2013 (Thursday to Saturday). The conference carries 10 CPD points. Early-bird rate ends on 30 Apr 2013. Click on the link above for more details.
Seminar on Islamic Finance Regulatory Framework (23 May 2013) Organised by the Bar Council Professional Standards and Development Committee, this seminar conducted by Megat Hizaini Hassan will be held at 2:00 pm to 5:30 pm, at Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Bar Council, on 23 May 2013 (Thursday). The seminar carries three CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
8th LAWASIA Employment Law Conference, Cambodia (24 and 25 May 2013) Organised by The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific (“LAWASIA”), this conference featuring Lia Alizia and Brian Williamson, will be held at Tara Angkor Hotel, Vithei Charles de Gaulle, Siem Reap, Cambodia, at 8:45 am to 7:00 pm and 9:00 am to 5:30 pm, on 24 and 25 May 2013 (Friday and Saturday), respectively. The conference carries 10 CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
MSLSSL and MCLJ Conference on Employment and Labour Laws 2013 (30 May 2013) Organised by the Malaysian Society for Labour and Social Security Law and Malaysian Current Law Journal, this conference entitled “Current Issues on Employment and Labour Laws” will be held at 8:30 am to 6:00 pm, at Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur, on 30 May 2013 (Thursday). The conference carries six CPD points. Click on the link above for more details.
“Transforming Criminal Justice” One-week Study Programme (25 to 29 Nov 2013) Organised by Public Administration International (“PAI”), this UK-based one-week study programme entitled “Transforming Criminal Justice: from Joined-up Justice to Multi-agency Approaches” will be held in London from 25 to 29 Nov 2013 (Monday to Friday). For further enquiries, please contact PAI by telephone at +44 (0)20 7580 3590, by fax at +44 (0)20 7580 4746, or by email at pai@public-admin.co.uk.
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