Parliament narrowly passes controversial Communications and Multimedia Act amendments after Opposition bloc vote

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Parliament narrowly passes controversial Communications and Multimedia Act amendments after Opposition bloc vote

^{Published on 2024-12-09 09:41:29 - MSN}

Government lawmakers got away with a narrow majority to give the Communication and Multimedia Act (amendment) Bill passage after being surprised by the Opposition's request for a bloc vote. The Bill was approved for the Committee Stage reading with just a 19-vote majority,

The Malaysian Parliament has narrowly passed amendments to the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) with a vote of 101 to 99, following a contentious debate. The amendments, which were supported by the government and opposed by the opposition bloc, aim to enhance the regulatory framework for online content. Key changes include the introduction of new penalties for offenses like online impersonation, cyberbullying, and the spread of misinformation. Critics argue that these amendments could stifle free speech and give excessive powers to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The opposition expressed concerns over potential misuse of these laws to target critics and suppress dissent, while the government insists the changes are necessary to combat the growing issues of online harassment and fake news.

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[ https://www.msn.com/en-my/politics/government/parliament-narrowly-passes-controversial-communications-and-multimedia-act-amendments-after-opposition-bloc-vote/ar-AA1vx4Po ]

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Parliament narrowly passes controversial Communications and Multimedia Act amendments after Opposition bloc vote