Amidst uproar from Malaysian netizens, today’s announcement by the Energy, Water & Communications Minister, Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansur, has put a new kink in the plot. Datuk Shaziman was reported to have said that the government had not ordered the Malaysian Today website to be banned.
According to news reports, Datuk Shaziman stated that the government only gave “general instruction” to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to allow all blogs and websites to function provided they adhered to provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. In the same report, Datuk Shaziman confirmed the commission’s independence, and that he “was told” by the commission that they intended to block the news portal under the provisions of s. 263 of the Act.
Datuk Shaziman also stated that that todate 127 websites and blogs have been blocked for contravention of various provisions of the Act.
These statements appear to be in stark contrast to statements made yesterday by Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar. According to news reports, he said, “Everyone is subject to the law, even websites and blogs. We do not intend to curtail people’s freedom or right to express themselves. But when they publish things that are libellous, slanderous or defamatory, it is natural for SKMM to act,”
In that same news report, MCMC chief operating officer, Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi, was said to have confirmed the order but had declined to elaborate.
So whose decision was it to block Malaysia Today?
Interestingly, s. 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 is in relation to the prevention of a commissions of offences under any law in Malaysia. Home Minister, Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, was stated to have said that the Malaysia Today has a tendency to publish (or allow to be published) “libellous, slanderous or defamatory” statements. Yet, these are not offences under the laws of Malaysia. These are private matters for the aggrieved party to settle with the alleged wrongdoer in the courts.
This recent decent development raises more questions than answers.
The censure of Malaysia Today has caused discontentment among bloggers, including an opposition leader, Lim Kit Siang and former Prime Minister, Dr. Mahathir, who recently made a statement on his blog to the effect that the press is useless as they are not allowed to report his responses except to twist his statements to make it look like he is supporting the current administration.
[Short post script: the censorship of Malaysia Today has met criticism from the ruling party's Khairy Jamaluddin, son-in-law of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi. In the news report, Khairy, UMNO Youth's deputy chief, gives the impression that it was the MCMC's own "strategy" to block Malaysia Today. Meanwhile, Utusan Malaysia, a national language newspaper, has reported that Malaysia Today was blocked for religious issues, namely speaking ill of the Prophet Muhammad]
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whose decision to boom Magnolia girl? A FARMER?
posted on August 31st, 2008 at 5:47 am - #11152whose decision to sue TUAN YB ANWAR? 13years old girl?
whose decision to close MALAYSIAKINI? some group of dirty politician men!!!!
from that political party!
Who else must be the great prime minister of malaysia.
Syed hamid just follow the instruction.
posted on August 31st, 2008 at 6:20 pm - #11158Was very disheartened, that oh-so-familiar heavy dropping feeling, as I began reading this. It’s imperative that people keep fighting this. Malaysia, you do not want to end up like China!
posted on September 2nd, 2008 at 5:31 pm - #11179[...] interesting aside, considering that Malaysia Today has now been blocked, is their removal is necessary or [...]
posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 11:59 am - #11183Now is the time where M’sia is developing its internet freedom history. Lets hope this progress is a positive one.
Great blog! I have added you to my Useful Link.
posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 3:13 pm - #11186Thanks Eddie. Yours is a very useful blog too.
posted on September 3rd, 2008 at 5:27 pm - #11187[...] According to the KTAK Minister, the Government had not ordered MCMC to block Malaysia-Today but he was told by MCMC that it will be blocking the website. There are also about 127 websites and blogs that has been blocked-Source. [...]
posted on September 14th, 2008 at 4:48 pm - #11923[...] For more, click here. [...]
posted on September 17th, 2008 at 6:02 pm - #12195[...] more, click here. Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)You can block our blogs but not our mindsISPs [...]
posted on September 27th, 2008 at 8:08 am - #13094