What is Section 114A?
Section 114A is the second of two amendments made to Malaysia’s Evidence Act 1950.

Law Minister Nazri Aziz tabled the second amendment, formally known as Evidence (Amendment) (No2) Act 2012, in Dewan Rakyat on 18 April. James Dawos Mamit supported the motion, and Section 114A was passed after the second and third reading. On 9 May, Dewan Negara passed the amendment.

The amendment was gazetted on 31 July 2012. This means the law is now operational.

What is the purpose of Section 114A?

Section 114A deals with allegedly illicit or harmful content on the Internet. In short, the amendment enables law enforcement officials to swiftly hold someone accountable for publishing seditious, defamatory, or libelous content online.

How does Section 114A affect you?

Titled “Presumption of Fact in Publication”, Section 114A holds the following people accountable for publishing content online:

(1) those who own, administrate, or edit websites open to public contributors, such as online forums or blogs;

(2) those who provide webhosting services or Internet access; and

(3) those own the computer or mobile device used to publish content online.

In other words, if allegedly defamatory content is traced back to your username, electronic device, and/or WiFi network, Section 114A presumes you are guilty of publishing illicit content on the Internet.

But what if you were the victim of identity theft and a hacker wrongfully used your Twitter or Facebook account to post defamatory content?

Under Section 114A, you are still considered guilty until proven innocent.

What is wrong with Section 114A?

Section 114A is problematic for a number of reasons:

i) It disproportionately burdens average Internet users who are wrongfully accused of publishing seditious or defamatory content.

ii) It makes Internet intermediaries–parties that provide online community forums, blogging and hosting services–liable for content that is published through their services.

iii) It allows hackers and cyber criminals to be free by making the person whose account/computer is hacked liable for any content/data which might have changed.

iv) It is a bad law passed in haste and does not take into account public interest and participation.

How will Section 114A affect the freedom of expression?
Section 114A threatens the right to freedom of expression. Internet users may resort to self-censorship to avoid false accusations made under Section 114A. Bloggers, for example, may excessively censor comments made by their readers. As a result, Section 114A inadvertently stifles public discussion about pertinent political or social issues and protects public authorities, such as the State, from public scrutiny.

The song featuring 15 AMP announcers or the ‘AMP Allstars’ from ERA, MY FM, hitz.fm, MIX fm, LiteFM, SINAR, XFM, THR Raaga and THR Gegar.

Lyrics below…

Satu Malaysia

1 Malaysia
Rakyat didahulukan
Pencapaian diutamakan

Oh indahnya pabila kita bersama
Kau, aku, kita semua tiada bezanya
No matter whatever the challenge may be
We’ll face it together the stronger we’ll be
Undra ge senthu endrum vaal vom
santhosam nirentharom

CHORUS
1 bangsa, 1 suara, 1 nada, 1 irama
Bersama kita capai semua
1 Malaysia
1 bangsa (we’re united in music)
1 irama (and united we stand)
I feel the hearts of my people when we struggle everyday
to be the best that we can
We share the food that we eat
We share the words that we speak
I say “What’s up?”
You say “Apa cerita?”
You hungry bro? Jom makan la

We go up, never go down
We go up together
Wo mên shê yi ge Malaisiya
Wo mên yong you zai tong yi ge jia

Together we are strong (tuan jie yi qi bu fen pi chi)
Together we are strong (xiang qin xiang ai wan zhong yi sin)
United we stand forever and ever
That’s the way it’s gonna be

Repeat CHORUS

Work No OT

Work has no Over Time.