Young netizens have expressed concern over the amendment to the  Evidence Act, especially by the prospect of innocent users being falsely charged.

Several students interviewed by Malaysiakini, though not familiar with the exact details of the change , nevertheless were appalled at discovering what they entailed.

According to the Evidence (Amendment) (No2) Act 2012, the owner of a website, internet connection or equipment with which the posting is made, is presumed to be the person who made the posting unless proven otherwise.

Gabriel Clement Chua, a 22-year-old student from Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), said he was shocked and worried when he first read about the amendment.

"It is especially unfair for those of us who use social networking accounts like Facebook, because you can't control the words of other individuals.

"Even though cybercrimes should be prevented, not all internet users should be presumed guilty," he said.

 'Completely absurd amendment'

NONEMavin Jothy, 21, (left) said he understands the desire of the government to curb cybercrimes.

"Thousands of irresponsible and offensive comments are made daily, and no one is held accountable," he said.

However, Mavin insisted individuals should not be held responsible for comments made by other users on their site.

"The Internet is meant to be an environment of free expression, but now we'll have to be cautious and watch our backs," noted the law student from Taylor's University.

Amar Hidayat, 21, agreed that the amendment is "completely absurd".
"Websites can be hacked, and even though I am very careful with my computer, some innocent individuals could get in trouble," he said.

NONEAmar, (right) who is also a law student at Taylor's University, added that the amendment could discourage restaurants and cafes from providing free internet coverage.

 Some lean towards curb

However, not all students were against the Evidence Act amendment.
Syarifah Zueihan, 22, said the amendment is fair because website owners should be able to control what is published.

"If these individuals are not held responsible, then who else will be?" she asked.

Syarifah, who is majoring in English Literature at UPM, added that people should be careful with their website security to ensure their accounts are not hacked or impersonated.

The amendment to the Evidence Act was passed by the Dewan Negara in May, and has been criticized by various individuals and NGOs.

This includes an online petition by the Centre for Independent Journalism calling for the government to withdraw the amendment, which has obtained nearly 3,000 signatures.