BY: SYARAH ANUAR

Malaysians are up in arms and upset and hot under the collar over what they perceive to be censorship and restrictions being imposed on their viewing and browsing of the Internet which they openly state is counter productive to national interests.

But in an appropriate defence, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) explained that it is only planning to “quarantine”websites which publish prohibited content from time to time.

The website owner will be notified by MCMC of any violations and be given the opportunity to rectify the matter but, meanwhile, they will be inaccessible to viewers and it will be restored upon the rectification done.

MCMC clarified that websites are only blocked when they are deemed to be found hosting malicious or unlawful content such as online gambling, pornography, copyright infringements and piracy or scams and phishing.

But many netizens, while in agreement with these moves, are troubled and disturbed by propaganda churned out by mainstream websites which favour the ruling government and want the free and independent press to go about their business without censorship.

Most Malaysians can live with censorship of the Internet by sites that are dubious in nature but at the same time they want unbiased, balanced and objective views that promote critical thinking and an appreciation of fair and just content.

-THE MALAYSIA VOICE

** The views expressed on this opinion is of the writer and not the publisher