File 22 : Do we need a new law?

Do we need a new law?

Bloggers are writers who write their views over the Internet. People often said that the Internet is the lawless place on the earth. Well, as to what extent does the Internet is lawless?

In most part of the world, blog is the medium for people to voice out their views over matters that mainstream medias do not allow. As mainstream medias are subjected to law, people write in blogs to escape from the so called restriction law, law that restricts people from totally express their views.

What is the position in Malaysia?

As far as I am concerned, there is no specific law that limits a person from expressing their views through the Internet. Which means that, we are free to express our views in any matters. This is due to the fact that, blogs exist in cyberspace, not real world. So, does normal laws apply to the cyberspace?

This is a new thing actually because blogging in Malaysia has had a tremendous development from an online diary to a place where people write about anything. Even now, the government uses blogs to reach the community.

Recent cases such as Raja Petra's showed that bloggers are subjected to normal laws. Raja Petra's was charged under Section 500 of the Penal Code for defamation. But is it right to charged a person under normal law when the offence was made in the cyber world?

With all respect to the above question, should a new law be made available to govern blogging activities?