Committee to Protect Bloggers » Malaysia

Malaysia Today Blocked by ISP

Victor — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 06:13:16 +0000

The online portal Malaysia Today has been blocked by the
Malaysia largest ISP TMNET on orders from the Malaysia Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as such overseas visitors and non TMNET subscribers can access the site but those using TMNET can not.

A MCMC official is quoted thus:

“It is being blocked because we found that some of the comments on the website were insensitive, bordering on incitement,”

He further says that all other ISPs have been ordered to enforce the ban.

Malaysia Today is often controversial with commentaries which the government finds distasteful. Though the government purports to allow free speech this action from the MCMC which is a government regulatory body is the complete opposite.

The Malaysia Today admin are now using the other URL address that redirects to the site.

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Thanks to Kamal for the tip

Another Malaysian Blogger Arrested for “Sedition”

Curt — Thu, 07 Aug 2008 18:44:42 +0000

Sedition is a favorite “law” to levy against bloggers by both Malaysia and its neighbor, Singapore. In Malaysia on Wednesday, blogger “Penarik Beca,” or Abu Bakar Mohd Rashid, joined American-Malaysian Raja Petra Kamarudin, in being charged with sedition. Bakaq was arrested Wednesday and his computer and cellular phone seized.

Hard-T has more details.

“Abu Bakar in his blog had published an article which showed a modified logo of the Royal Malaysia Police with derogatory comments about Musa including claims that Musa was being controlled by Chinese crime syndicates,” Sanjos told Bernama here today.

The blogger was being detained at the Dang Wangi police station lock-up and would be released tomorrow, he added.

Malaysian Blogger in Jail for “Sedition”

Curt — Wed, 07 May 2008 03:14:44 +0000

Update: According to The Star (via Blogscapes), Petra has posted bail.

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According to Reuters, Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin, publisher of Malaysia Today, has “opted to go to jail on Tuesday instead of paying bail after he was accused of sedition for implying the country’s deputy premier had a hand in the murder of a Mongolian woman.”

Raja Petra refused the court’s offer of bail of 5,000 ringgit (806 pounds) until October 6, when the case is scheduled to resume, saying it was a matter of principle.

CPB has a note into Mr. Kamarudin requesting a comment on his decision.

Malaysian Blogger Arrested

Curt — Wed, 26 Dec 2007 01:10:26 +0000

According to Rocky’s Bru, a former Malaysian presidential candidate for the Umno party, Mohd Shukri Jamaluddin, known to fellow bloggers Cucumatkilau, was arrested and his house searched by police in Kuantan this last Sunday, December 23. Several cell phones and a laptop were confiscated. He was released 10 hours after being arrested.

Jamuluddin said the police did not provide a warrant nor announce the laws he had been apprehended for allegedly breaking, though he called it the beginning of a crackdown on bloggers.

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Update: The Star reports that Jamuluddin has lodged a formal complaint of wrongful detention against the Kuantan police.