The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had ordered censorship for several sites providing “live” updates and results for the polls, fearing it may affect “national stability, public order and harmony, and economic stability”.
According to a copy of its May 9 confidential request to internet service providers (ISPs) sighted by Malay Mail, the MCMC asked for websites live.malaysiakini.com, live.undi.info and undi.info to be blocked or redirected to the IP address 175.139.142.25 — the address used to host a standard government legal notice that a site has been blocked.
“The commission hereby request you to undertake the actions under Section 263(2) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 with respect to the following URL/web address,” said the letter signed by MCMC chief operating officer Datuk Mazlan Ismail, on behalf of its chairman Tan Sri Halim Shafie.
“Specific to this request, due to the nature of the offence that may affect national stability, public order and harmony, and economic stability, you are required to perform the redirection immediately.”
The address live.malaysiakini.com refers to portal Malaysiakini’s “live” coverage, while live.undi.info is the “live” version of undi.info, a database of lawmakers and election candidates, also run by Malaysiakini.
The MCMC said the three sites had allegedly contravened Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which handles “improper use of network facilities or network service”.
Section 233 deals with “any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person,”
https://www.malaymail.com/s/1632665/mcmc-says-censored-ge14-live-results-to-preserve-public-order