He said the former Bar Council president’s accusation was exaggerated.

“The government’s proposal to require foreign social media platform companies to obtain a licence under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 can be challenged, disputed and opposed.

“However, accusing the federal government of being dictatorial because of this proposal is excessive and unfair,” he said in a Facebook post.

Ambiga was reported as saying today that the unity government was the most dictatorial in the country’s history for not abolishing the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and instead introducing new licensing requirements.

Hassan said that while he was aware the current administration had its weaknesses, the government led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim was not dictatorial.

“How can this government be dictatorial when it has not suspended Parliament by declaring an emergency, like the previous Perikatan Nasional government?

“How can Anwar’s government be dictatorial when the Suhakam Report is debated in Parliament?

“The auditor-general’s report and the Public Accounts Committee report are openly debated in Parliament,” he said.

Hassan also said Ambiga should be more measured when laying accusations at the government’s door.