[ENGLISH VERSION BELOW] Sempena Hari Hak Asasi Manusia Antarabangsa 2024, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) melancarkan laporan tahunnya, “Report on the State of Freedom of Expression (FOE) in Malaysia 2024”.
Ketika kita meraikan ulang tahun ke-76 hari hak asasi ini, tema global tahun ini, “Our Rights, Our Future”, mengingatkan kita tentang peranan hak asasi manusia dalam membentuk masyarakat yang adil.
Namun, masa depan kebebasan bersuara di Malaysia masih kabur. Pada tahun 2024, kerajaan “Madani” memasuki tahun kedua pentadbirannya dengan janji untuk membawa perubahan, tetapi realitinya belum memenuhi harapan rakyat.
Meskipun terdapat beberapa kemajuan positif – seperti perbincangan tentang akta hak mendapat maklumat dan pembentangan Rang Undang- Undang untuk menubuhkan majlis Media Malaysia – langkah-langkah ini dibayangi oleh pengenalan undang-undang menindas serta rejim lesen terhadap media sosial untuk mengawal selia mereka, yang mengancam kebebasan asas Malaysia dan komitmennya terhadap prinsip-prinsip demokrasi.
Laporan kami bertujuan untuk menyoroti kemajuan, cabaran dan halangan dalam kebebasan bersuara di Malaysia sepanjang tahun 2024.
Dengan menggunakan data daripada usaha pemantauan kami, kami berharap dapat menyediakan gambaran berasaskan bukti mengenai lanskap kebebasan bersuara dan memberi kuasa kepada orang awam untuk bersama-sama memperjuangkan akauntabiliti dan reformasi.
Undang-undang menindas
Salah satu tema utama dalam laporan kami ialah penggunaan undang-undang menindas secara berterusan untuk mengekang kebebasan bersuara, berhimpun dan berekspresi.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara, CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a regular pledge or periodic auto-donation to Aliran
- Become an Aliran member
Antara Januari hingga November 2024, CIJ mendokumentasikan 105 kes unik di mana undang-undang yang menyekat ini digunakan sebanyak 187 kali.
| Undang-undang | Bilangan penyiasatan |
| Seksyen 233 Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia (CMA) | 99 |
| Akta Hasutan 1948 | 19 |
| Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2012 | 14 |
| Akta Mesin Cetak dan Penerbitan (PPPA): | 3 |
| Kanun Keseksaan (Seksyen 298A, 500, 504, 505(b)): | 52 |
| Jumlah | 187 |
Penggunaan berterusan Akta Hasutan dan Seksyen 233 CMA menunjukkan kekurangan komitmen kerajaan Madani terhadap janji reformasinya.
Undang-undang digital yang bermasalah
Pemantauan kami juga menunjukkan trend yang membimbangkan dalam hak digital. Kerajaan memperkenalkan undang-undang baharu yang boleh membatasi hak di ruang digital, termasuk:
- Pindaan kepada CMA – Kuasa negara diperluaskan untuk menjalankan pemantauan, mengakses data komunikasi, meningkatkan hukuman dan menggunakan istilah seperti “komunikasi yang sangat ofensif” yang boleh dimanipulasi secara selektif
- Rang Undang-undang Keselamatan Dalam Talian yang baharu -Perundangan ini bertujuan untuk mengawal selia platform dan kandungan dalam talian dengan alasan mengurangkan “bahaya dalam talian”. Namun, ia menimbulkan risiko melalui peruntukan kabur mengenai “kandungan berbahaya” dan penekanan berlebihan terhadap moderasi kandungan tanpa pendekatan sistematik seperti transparensi algoritma dan pendidikan pengguna. Langkah-langkah ini boleh mengubah ruang dalam talian Malaysia menjadi persekitaran yang terlalu dikawal dan mengehadkan wacana terbuka
Ruang sivik yang semakin mengecil
Laporan CIJ menunjukkan tindakan berterusan kerajaan yang menyebabkan penyempitan ruang sivik:
- Media di bawah tekanan – Kerajaan menyekat laman berita dan menyiasat wartawan, menjejaskan kebebasan media
- Pemantauan dan penapisan – Siasatan terhadap kandungan dalam talian mencetuskan kesan buruk terhadap rakyat Malaysia yang menyuarakan pandangan berbeza
- Ruang protes yang semakin terhad – Penggunaan tidak konsisten Akta Perhimpunan Aman 2012 telah menyebabkan beberapa penyiasatan terhadap penganjur atau peserta perhimpunan.
Seruan tindakan
CIJ menyeru kerajaan untuk:
- Membatalkan atau meminda undang-undang menindas seperti Akta Hasutan dan CMA yang menyekat kebebasan bersuara
- Memperkukuh mekanisme pengawasan bebas untuk mencegah penyalahgunaan kuasa pengawasan
- Mempercepat penubuhan majlis media Malaysia dan meluluskan akta hak untuk mendapatkan maklumat untuk melindungi kebebasan akhbar
Langkah ke hadapan
Laporan ini menggambarkan cabaran yang dihadapi rakyat Malaysia, tetapi juga menonjolkan ketahanan individu dan komuniti. Kami mendesak kerajaan untuk memastikan kebebasan bersuara menjadi asas demokrasi kita.
Laporan penuh tersebut boleh dibaca di sini. – CIJ
English version
Ensure that freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of our democracy
In conjunction with the International Human Rights Day 2024, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has released its annual “Report on the State of Freedom of Expression (FOE) in Malaysia 2024”.
This is the 76th anniversary of human rights day. It global theme “Our Rights, Our Future” reminds us of the fundamental role of human rights in shaping a just society.
Yet, the future of freedom of expression in Malaysia remains uncertain. In 2024, the “Madani” (civil and compassionate) government entered its second year in office with the promise of change. But the reality has not yet matched public expectations.
While there were some promising developments – such as ongoing discussions about a right-to-information act and the tabling of the bill to establish a Malaysian media council – these positive strides were overshadowed by the persistence of repressive measures.
The passing of several concerning bills and the introduction of a new licensing regime to regulate social media threatens to further erode Malaysia’s fundamental freedoms and its commitment to democratic principles.
Our report aims to shed light on the progress, challenges and setbacks in freedom of expression in Malaysia throughout 2024. Using data from our monitoring efforts, we hope to provide an evidence-based account of the freedom-of-expression landscape and empower the public to collectively advocate for accountability and reforms.
Repressive laws
One of the central themes of our report is the persistent use of repressive laws to stifle free speech, assembly and expression.
Between January and November 2024, the CIJ documented 105 unique cases in which multiple restrictive laws were invoked. As a result, the authorities used the following laws 187 times collectively.
| Laws | Number of investigations |
| Section 233 of the CMA | 99 |
| Sedition Act 1948 | 19 |
| Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 | 14 |
| Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA) | 3 |
| Penal Code (Sections 298A, 500, 504, 505(b)) | 52 |
| Total | 187 |
Alarmingly, the Sedition Act and Section 233 of the CMA remain the most weaponised tools, with Section 233 alone accounting for more than half of all recorded investigations.
The continued use of these laws corroborates our observations on the Madani government’s lack of commitment to its pledges of reform.
Problematic online regulation
Our monitoring also revealed troubling trends in digital rights. The government is introducing new measures that could severely restrict rights in digital spaces, affecting data protection and privacy, including:
- Amendments to the CMA – These amendments have widened the powers of the state to conduct surveillance and access communication data, increased punitive sanctions, and introduced ambiguous terms like “grossly offensive” communications, which leave room for selective enforcement
- Newly passed Online Safety Bill – This new legislation aims to regulate online platforms and content in the name of reducing “online” harm. However, it poses several risks due to its ambiguous provisions of ‘harmful content’, which contain vague language, heightened regulation of applications service providers and content application service providers, as well as an over-emphasis on content moderation instead of adopting a system-based approach which would address platform design, algorithmic transparency and user education.
These measures risk turning Malaysia’s online spaces into overly regulated environments – limiting open discourse and reinforcing state control over digital platforms, undermining the constitutional guarantee of freedom of expression under Article 10(1)(a) of the Federal Constitution and Section 3(3) of the CMA, which states that nothing in the act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the internet.
Shrinking civic space
CIJ’s report highlights the government’s continued actions resulting in a shrinking of civic space:
- Media under siege – Despite initial promises of media freedom, the government has blocked news websites and investigated journalists, limiting the independence of media
- Surveillance and censorship – Investigations and arrests over online posts have led to a chilling effect on people voicing dissenting opinions
- Shrinking space for protest – The police’s inconsistent application of the Peaceful Assembly Act has, on numerous occasions, led to investigations against organisers or participants.
Call to action
As Malaysia faces these challenges, CIJ reiterates its call for the government to uphold its international human rights obligations and constitutional commitment to freedom of expression. We urge the state to:
- Repeal or amend repressive laws, including the Sedition Act, the CMA, the Official Secrets Act, the Peaceful Assembly Act, the Printing Presses and Publications Act and sections of the Penal Code that stifle free expression
- Strengthen independent oversight mechanisms to prevent the abuse of surveillance powers and protect the right to privacy
- Accelerate the establishment of the Malaysian media council and enact a right to information act to safeguard press freedom and public access to information
Looking ahead
The CIJ’s annual report on freedom of expression paints a sobering picture of the challenges facing the people of Malaysia. Yet, it also highlights the resilience of individuals and communities who continue to speak out against injustice.
We urge the government to look at the realities that the people face when expressing their right to free expression, association and assembly and find the political will to ensure that freedom of expression remains a cornerstone of our democracy.
Read the full report here. – CIJ
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
