KUALA LUMPUR: The government plans to review the amendment of Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 to ensure a smooth investigation process for those charged for political purposes under the Act.
Deputy Communications and Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching said the review would also allow better data traffic maintenance for the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
"Only 67 per cent of the complaints we receive contain threatening content and another 58 per cent are obscene content.
"However, we are mulling the effort to review the Act to ensure that the investigation aspect will be smooth and better data traffic maintenance for MCMC.
"Hence, I welcome all proposals from this (the government) or that (the opposition) side on how we can improve this existing law for the better and to ensure it will not be abused," she said in Dewan Rakyat, today.
Teo said this in response to a supplementary question by Syahredzan Johar (Pakatan Harapan-Bangi) on the government's plan to consider reviewing the Act so it could not be used for political purposes.
Previously, Syahredzan had urged the government to consider the review of Section 233 of the Act, saying it was too broad and could be abused by those in power.
He said the Act could be used and had been used by those who have held power.
Meanwhile, Teo added that up to February 2023, MCMC had received a total of 2,825 complaints which were being investigated under Section 233 of the Act.
Of the total, 108 cases were still under review, 115 cases were charged in court and 84 cases have been issued a warning notice.
"From the 115 cases charged in court, 108 cases have been completed with a total of 1.04 million ringgit fine.
"Meanwhile, 1,632 complaints received contain obscene content; seven inappropriate content; 574 false content; 67 threatening; and 504 complaints on nasty online messages."