Letter to the Editor
By Telford Engan Tan
During a recent session in Parliament, the chairperson of Kumpulan Rentas Parti Parliamen Malaysia- Hak Kanak Kanak (KRPPM), Rodziah Ismail, was questioned on the potential unintended consequences of the Online Safety Act 2024 broad definitions.
The Online Safety Act 2024 is intended to safeguard vulnerable groups from online harm. However, its broad and vague definitions could inadvertently lead to censorship.
As the criteria for what constitutes ‘harmful’ content are not clearly defined and strictly enforced, there’s a risk that culturally significant or politically sensitive expressions could be unfairly targeted.
While the Online Safety Act 2024 aims to protect vulnerable groups from online harms, I am deeply concerned that its wide-ranging definitions could inadvertently suppress our Indigenous cultural expressions.
As a Sarawakian, I must voice my concern. With our unique traditions and a diverse population of approximately 2.5 million, our cultural expressions—such as those proudly showcased by influencers like Baby Shima in traditional Iban attire—risk being unfairly targeted under a vague ‘duty of care’.
In an appeal for the preservation of Sarawak’s unique cultural heritage, the federal government and relevant ministries have been called to clarify the following:
- How will the federal government collaborate with Sarawak to ensure enforcement is culturally sensitive and respectful of indigenous expressions?
- What measures will be implemented to establish a robust check-and-balance system that precisely defines “harmful” content, especially considering concerns from journalism and advocacy communities and past missteps such as Operasi Lalang in 1987?
Telford Engan Tan is a cohort of the UNICEF Malaysia Young Person’s Advisory Group and is an advocate for Sarawak’s cultural heritage.
This is the personal opinion of the author(s) and does not necessarily represent the views of DayakDaily. Letters to the Editor may be lightly edited for clarity.
— DayakDaily
