Tuesday, May 15, 2007

A Threat to Fine and Jail Bloggers?

We have laws, but they exist not to be abused. Or perhaps, they are?

KUALA LUMPUR: Umno Information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhammad Taib said people shouldn't base their beliefs solely on articles written in weblogs or blogs.
He claimed there were some bloggers who wrote with a slant that tended to side with Opposition views.
Muhammad said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi appeared fine despite what had been reported in the Internet on Sunday.
"He joked and met the press. However, what was reported in blogs was different.
"The Internet reports are mischievious with the intention to cause panic in Umno and Barisan Nasional, and it can create a negative situation in the country.
"The people should check their facts first and not believe everything they read on the Internet," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby on Monday.
He was commenting on Internet reports which claimed that the Prime Minister had fainted while attending a function in Lumut on Sunday.
Muhammad said action should be taken against bloggers who knowingly spread false rumours.
Energy,Water & Communications Ministry Deputy Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said the ministry would cooperate with the Internal Security Ministry if it received a request to investigate the source of the online rumour.
He added that Section 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act stated that action could be taken on offensive Internet content or improper use of network facilities, which provided a fine of RM50,000, a year's jail or both.
The Act's Bill of Guarantee ensured that Internet content should not be censored, he said when asked whether the Government would regulate Internet content.
"I've not read the blog itself, but action can be taken under the Penal Code by the Internal Security Ministry," he told reporters at the Parliament lobby.

Please read Jeff Ooi's Screenshots for his take on Mat Taib's and Shaziman's remarks.

4 comments:

Shanghai Fish said...

My dear,
for a moron who cannot read 'declaration notice' in airports(Brisbane) about disclosing the amount of money one carries...this ripper of the nation wants to comment on what's written in the blogs ?Are we such fools to entertain this super crook within UMNO ? can he even read the blogs ?And Shazinman is another upstart who is also dying from lack of attention...he should book Bernama for letting out the blurp...sheeesh. We are surrounded by morons !

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

shanghai,

to me, these 2 should not try to threaten anyone with the sedition act. especially when they have not read what the blogger in question had written.
i dont see any rumours in the internet being spread about the PM.
are they saying that we cannot even say anything about the PM?
Besides, i don;t see any contradiction in the one-line report in the blog and the report quoting the PM and his doctor.
remember, Dr M was severely criticised and maligned throughout the reformasi years. The sedition act was not invoked.
so, i would advise these 2 and anyone else in position of authority to stop being frivolous or a BULLY

zewt said...

i tot all blogs were praying for our PM's well being and wish him the best of health? where is this collapse news coming from?

NURAINA A SAMAD said...

zewt: Rocky posted a report on it.