Press Statement By Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng In Kuala Lumpur On 18.11.2016.
Can BN Prove There Are No Double-standards:- If Malaysiakini Can Be Charged Under The Communications and Multimedia Act(CMA) For Uploading Two Videos That Are “Offensive In Nature With Intent To Annoy” The Attorney-General, Can BN News Media Networks Like TV3 Be Charged For Doing The Same Against Me As Penang Chief Minister?
The Penang state government is deeply shocked that Malaysiakini’s sister company KiniTV and its two directors Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran will be charged under Section 244(1) of the CMA in the Special Cyber Court. This is the first time that person or a company is charged for annoying a political appointee by recording a video clip that called for the Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohd Apandi Ali’s resignation.
The offence is punishable with a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or by imprisonment not exceeding one year, or both. An additional fine of RM1,000 per day is also imposed for each day the offence is continued upon conviction. Charging KiniTV and its two directors is not only an attack on the principles of press freedom and the right of journalists to do their jobs without harassment, but also democratic accountability of public officials.
Charging Malaysiakini would appear to be treating criticisms personally when the Attorney-General should realise that he is not above such criticism in carrying out his public duties. If that is the case then everyone should be charged under the CMA, not only for annoying the AG but also annoying political leaders. Our society would rapidly descend and spiral downwards to George Orwell’s 1984.
If Malaysiakini can be charged under the Communications and Multimedia Act(CMA) for uploading two videos that are “offensive in nature with intent to annoy” the Attorney-General, can BN news media networks like TV3 be charged for doing the same against me as Penang Chief Minister? Action must be taken action against BN news media like TV3 because failure to do so would display not only double-standards, but an unfortunate impression that only anti-BN leaders and opposition political parties are targetted.
DAP urges BN to let good sense, rationality and reason to prevail by immediately withdrawing such unjustified charges against KiniTV and its two directors. After all defamation suits can be filed in courts for such offensive or insulting remarks and there is no need for criminal proceedings. In view that similar charges are not made against those who attack Penang government leaders, the state government is willing to offer assistance to KiniTV and the two directors in fighting such unwarranted charges against them.
LIM GUAN ENG
—-Mandarin —
槟州首席部长林冠英于2016年11月18日在吉隆坡发表声明:
国阵是否能证明他们不是双重标准：如果《当今大马》可以因为上载两支“短片内容破坏他人形象，冒犯他人”的短片，而在通讯与多媒体法令下被提控，那么国阵媒体如：第三电视是否可以因为对身为槟州首长的我做了同样的事，而被提控？
槟城政府感到很吃惊，《当今大马》的姐妹公司《KiniTV》以及它的两名董事颜重庆与詹德兰将在《1998年通讯与多媒体法令》第244（1）条文下被提控上多媒体特别法庭。这是第一次个人或公司因为录制了一支呼吁总检察长丹斯里莫哈末阿班迪辞职的短片，而被控冒犯一名政治委任者。
被告若罪成，将面对最高监禁1年的刑罚、罚款5万令吉或两者兼施。此人若在定罪后再犯同样罪行，可处以每天１０００令吉罚款。提控Kini TV及其两名董事不只打击了新闻自由的原则以及新闻记者无畏无惧执行任务的原则，也打击了公职人员的民主及问责精神。
总检察长应该知道在职行公务时他不是不可以被批评的，他提控《当今大马》就好像假公济私，私自报复批评者。如果是这样，每个人都可以因为不只冒犯总检察长、还有政治领袖而在通讯与多媒体法令下被提控。我们的社会将继续退步到乔治奥威尔的１９８４年.
如果《当今大马》可以因为上载两支“短片内容破坏总检察长形象，冒犯他人” 的短片，那么国阵媒体如：第三电视是否可以因为对我做了同样的事，而被提控？他们必须对国阵媒体如：第三电视采取行动，如果他们做不到，那么他们只是展示了双重标准，不幸的是，他们只针对反国阵的领袖及反对党领袖。
行动党促请国阵马上撤销对《Kini TV》及其两名董事的莫须有指控，维护善意及理智。再说，当局可以针对冒犯性言论提控当事人毁谤，根本不需要以刑事罪对付。有鉴于当局没有对那些攻击槟州政府领袖者采取同样的行动，州政府愿意提供援助予《KINI TV》及其两名董事，以应对上述毫无根据的指控。
林冠英