Blogging

Malaysian laws on blogging

Students studying at Sunway campus, Malaysia, are advised to exercise caution when blogging or creating other postings on the internet so as to avoid writing anything which may be defamatory or seditious in their blogs or postings, especially against the good name and reputation of Monash University and its lecturers/staff .

Words are considered:

'defamatory' in nature if the words 'tend to lower a person in the estimation of right-thinking members of society generally' (per the Malaysian Defamation Act 1957) or if the text 'makes or publishes any imputation concerning any person, intending to harm, or knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of such person' (per the Malaysian Penal Code (revised 1997)).
'seditious' if they have a tendency to bring into hatred or contempt, excite, raise discontent or disaffection, promote feelings of ill-will and hostility against another person or party (per the Malaysian Sedition Act 1948).

Numerous legal and/or disciplinary actions may be taken against a student who commits the offence of defamation or sedition:

(i) a civil action for defamation may be initiated in court by the University and/or the offended lecturer /staff against the offender

(ii) a criminal action for sedition may be commenced in court by the authorities against the offender

(iii) the University may take disciplinary action against the offender for committing a misconduct under the relevant student disciplinary policy

(iv) the University may take disciplinary action against the offender for committing an offence under the Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities by Students Policy.