Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein today denied that the government is using the Printing Presses and Publications Act (PPPA), passed in 1984, to shackle the online media.

“The government had never used the PPPA to control online media,” he stressed in a written reply to Seputeh parliamentarian Teresa Kok.

NONE He was responding to Kok’s ( left ) question on whether the government is using the PPPA to exert influence over online media without parliament approval since the act has not yet been amended to include online news content.

However, Hishammuddin repeated his earlier announcement that plans are indeed under way for the act to be expanded to allow the government to regulate and control online media news content, similar to the fetters already in place upon the print media under the same act and broadcast media under the Broadcasting Act 1988.

“We are still in the preliminary discussion stage to re-evaluate the effectiveness of the PPPA, to include possible offences in online media content.

“This effort is important and appropriate with the current situation and times so as to ensure the act shall remain relevant in preserving our safety and public order,” concluded the minister.

News that the PPPA may soon be expanded to include online media was met with stiff resistance from alternative media practitioners and press freedom advocates in Malaysia and worldwide.