A distressing incident shocked the nation recently after a 42-year-old Malaysian man was gruesomely tied up and beaten to death by a group of people at the Taman Pelangi Semenyih 2 housing area on Tuesday night (20 February).
Since then, 5 men aged 22 to 52 have been arrested, with the case being investigated under Section 302 of the Penal Code for murder.
For illustration purposes
Graphic videos of the gruesome murder have gone viral since the incident caught public attention, with many Malaysians sharing them on social media.
Malaysians urged to delete and stop spreading the graphic footage
Today, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has urged the public to not spread the videos. Furthermore, for those who have posted the videos on social media, MCMC advised the postings to be deleted.
KENYATAAN MEDIA
MCMC GESA ORANG RAMAI UNTUK MEMADAM DAN TIDAK MENYEBARKAN VIDEO INSIDEN TAMAN PELANGI SEMENYIH 2#MCMC pic.twitter.com/YwVRg56rNt
— MCMC (@MCMC_RASMI) February 23, 2024
In a press release, the commission expressed its sympathy for the tragic incident and stressed that sharing the footage would hurt the feelings of the victim’s family.
Not only that, posting and spreading the videos are also a violation of basic principles and ethics as they’re classified as the usage of graphic content regarding disasters, accidents and violence that could cause unrest among viewers.
For illustration purposes
Furthermore, MCMC advised the public to refer to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Code 2022 to learn the proper guidelines for creating content in our country.
In case you didn’t know, the code was co-regulated by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Content Forum as per Sections 212 and 213 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Potential action under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998
Speaking of the above Act, MCMC has also warned the public that any individuals who share videos or content regarding the appalling incident in Taman Pelangi Semenyih 2 may face action under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
As per Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 above, it is an offence to knowingly make or initiate the transmission by means of network facilities or applications (in this case, social media platforms), any communication which is obscene, indecent, menacing or offensive in character.
Those found in violation of this provision may face action under Section 233(3) of the Act below:
Hence, if convicted, those who spread the videos may face up to RM50,000 fine or up to 1 year of imprisonment or both. Furthermore, they may also be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 per day during which the offence is continued after conviction.
For illustration purposes
So, what do you guys think of MCMC’s statement? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.
Also read: M’sians Beat Man to Death After Chasing Him Down from Hit & Run Scene in Kajang
