KUALA LUMPUR: The amendment to the Evidence Act 2012 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.
