PUTRAJAYA, Aug 30- Malaysia can create its own social website like ‘Facebook’ as introduced in China for its own people in the effort to control seditious statements which could threaten public order, said Social and Cultural Affairs Advisor to the Government, Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.
Apart from that, Rais who was former Information, Communication and Culture Minister said the authorities should be given the power to block the social website for a short time until an investigation is conducted against the individual concerned.
“Officially, I have presented the proposal to the government and the Attorney-General. It is up to them.”What has been carried out in China in creating its own Facebook, can also be done by us and we can take preventive measures faster,” he said.
He was speaking to reporters after a Merdeka appreciation programme organised by the Rural and Regional Ministry in conjunction with the 57th Merdeka Day here today.Rais who is also Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia (UIAM) president said the matter needed to be studied immediately as cyber activities had become a part of the daily life even though the social website was based in another “So we need to study fast so that we do not become victims to them (social website operator),” he said.
According to him, even though Section 3 and 4 of the Sedition Act 1948 or the Public Order Act could be used against people making excessive statements,the legal process took a long time and the people might then lost confidence in the government.
– BERNAMA
