Access to Malaysia Today reinstated by Cabinet

The Cabinet has ordered the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to reinstate access to all blocked websites including Malaysia Today, says Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

On Aug 28 SKMM confirmed that it had instructed ISPs to block Malaysia Today in accordance with Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Since then various parties have slammed the move saying the action went against national commitments spelt out under MSC Malaysia’s Bill of Guarantees.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar had said the site was blocked because it showed no respect for religion. (The Star)

Meanwhile, Bernama also reporting the same. The government is no longer blocking the access to any websites or blogs in the country, says Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor.

He told reporters here that the decision was reached at the weekly cabinet meeting Wednesday.

Shaziman said that following the decision, the order to restrict access to websites or blogs, including the "Malaysia Today" news portal, has been withdrawn, effective immediately.


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JAKIM lodged a police report against Raja Petra

The Department of Islamic Development (Jakim) and several Muslim bodies lodged a police report here on Friday against Malaysia Today website editor Raja Petra Kamarudin for allegedly insulting the Malays, Muslims and Islam.

Director-general Datuk Wan Mohamad Sheikh Abdul Aziz said the department wanted authorities to take action against the editor, who is already facing charges of criminal defamation.

"There are articles on his website, which are clearly insulting Islam and the Prophet. Such views expressed will affect the good relationship Muslims are trying to build with those from the other religions and the Government's agenda.

"These will also hamper the Prime Minister's efforts to see more inter-religious understanding," he told reporters when met at the police station.

The allegedly offensive articles cited by Jakim were "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim" and "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet".

Among others, Raja Petra wrote "only Muslims pretend to be good when they are actually bad" and compared Prophet Mohammad to Osama bin Laden.

Wan Mohamad said the department had been monitoring Raja Petra's activities and blog since it was first established on the Internet.

"Action against Raja Petra is necessary because Jakim may not be able to control the anger of the Muslims, particularly when the articles came so soon after the Bar Council forum on Conversion to Islam," he said.

Besides Jakim, the other Muslim bodies that lodged the report were Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah, Federal Territory Islamic Religious Department, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia and Federal Territories Ministry and the Federal Territory Islamic Council.

The department, he warned, was also monitoring articles on several blogs and websites, and had identified several others whose writings were offensive.

It was reported that all 21 Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in the country had been ordered by the Communications and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) to block Raja Petra's website. The notices were sent out on Tuesday in accordance with Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

The Government had since denied that it issued a directive to SKMM to block the access.

Wan Mohamad denied that the report was "politically motivated".

"It's up to the public to perceive what they want," he said.

Excerpt from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/5/nation/20080905142912&sec=nation

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MCMC : Probe Underway, Malaysia Today block order stands

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (SKMM) directive to Internet service providers (ISPs) to block access to the Malaysia Today portal still stands pending an investigation to determine if its editor should be charged.

SKMM chief operating officer Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi, when contacted Wednesday, said an investigation was underway to determine whether or not to charge the portal's editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin under Section 211 or 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Section 211 states that no content applications service provider, or other person using a content applications service, shall provide content which is indecent, obscene, false, menacing, or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person.


Mohamed Sharil Tarmizi - Filepic
A person who contravenes this is liable to a fine of not more than RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both, and shall also be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 for every day or part of a day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Section 233 is on improper use of network facilities or network service and related to communication that is obscene, indecent, false, menacing of offensive with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.

The offender is liable to a fine not more than RM50,000 or not more than one year's jail or both, and shall be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.

Mohamed Sharil said that access to website was blocked after the Commission deemed the postings had contravened the Act for inciting and being insulting against Islam.

He claimed the commission had received several complaints from the public, adding that the preventive measure was taken under Section 263 of the Act.

On criticisms that blocking access to the website was against freedom of the Internet, he said that SKMM was merely “doing its job."

“We want to promote ethical and responsible blogging. We want to make the online space better still, with fervent debates, but in a civil and responsible manner."

Raja Petra has said that blocking access to his portal was a breach of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) charter and that he would turn it into "a big issue."

Under MSC Malaysia's 10-Point Bill of Guarantees, it is stated that that Government promised to “ensure no Internet censorship” as part of its commitment to ensuring the success of MSC status companies.

Section 3 of the Act states quite explicitly, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.”

It is understood that only TMnet, the No 1 ISP in the country, has complied with SKMM's directive. Malaysia Today meanwhile has set up an alternate site that can still be accessed by TMnet users.

Home Minister Datuk Seri Syed Hamid Albar, while denying that the Government had instructed SKMM to issue the block order, claimed the site was being blocked because it had posted articles deemed insulting to Islam.

Mohamed Sharil meanwhile said that the Commission strongly advised members of the public not to forget that the law also applied in cyberspace.

Excerpt from http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/9/4/nation/20080904112150&sec=nation


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