Bloggers Who Slander Must Be Brought To Book, Says Khairy - Bernama

KIMANIS (Sabah), July 28 (Bernama) -- Umno wants bloggers who resort to slander to be brought to book, said Umno Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin.

He said these bloggers did not think about the sensitivities of others and the repercussions their writings can cause.

"There are no laws in the cyberworld except for the law of the jungle. As such, action must be taken so that the "monkeys" behave," he told reporters after opening the Papar, Kimanis and Sipitang Umno Youth annual delegates conference here today.

Khairy said there were some bloggers who thought they were above the law.

He said this when asked about Malaysia-Today webmaster Raja Petra Kamaruddin being called by the police for alleged seditious comments posted on it.

Khairy added that he too had been slandered on websites but had yet to take legal action because the case might take a long time to be settled.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=276105]

Police Quiz Malaysia Today's Blogger - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- Police today interviewed Malaysia Today's blogger, Raja Petra Kamaruddin following a report lodged on Monday by Umno information chief Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib who claimed that the blog had churned out sensitive remarks.

Accompanied by his wife, Marina Lee Abdullah, 51, and Parti Keadilan Rakyat information chief Tian Chua and several supporters, Raja Petra, 57, showed up at Dang Wangi Police District headquarters at about 11am.

Raja Petra who was led into the police headquarters by a policeman gave his statement at 12.15pm and until 6pm he had yet to leave the station.

According to Marina, Raja Petra received a call from a police officer with the rank of an ASP at 8am asking him to give a statement at the police station.

Dang Wangi District Police Chief ACP Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman confirmed that Raja Petra was summoned to give his statement over his article in Malaysia Today's blog on July 11 which was said to delve on religious and racial sentiments.

This is the second time Raja Petra was summoned by police to give a statement over his article posted in the blog which started in August 2004. He had given a police statement last year.

[From http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275482]

Umno Youth Hails Action Against Errant Bloggers - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 25 (Bernama) -- The Umno Youth movement said it fully supports the government's move to act against webmasters and bloggers who flouted the law and belittled the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Its Economic Bureau chief Datuk Reezal Merican Naina Merican said although they were free to voice their opinions, they should do so responsibly.

"Those found guilty of insulting the king must be brought to justice," he said in a statement here today.

Reezal Merican, who is also Federation of Peninsular Malay Students Association president, said nowadays bloggers were abusing freedom of speech to the extent that they dared to insult the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and disseminate slander and lies against the administration, the prime minister and his deputy.

Concerned about errant bloggers, he said, the movement lodged a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission on July 10.

Meanwhile, Umno Youth Public Complaints Bureau chief Datuk Subahan Kamal described groups who write on sensitive issues which include insulting the king and Islam as irresponsible and having little respect for the dignity of the people or the country.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275477]

Mat Taib Lodges Police Report Against Malaysia Today - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 23 (Bernama) -- Umno information chief Senator Tan Sri Muhammad Muhd Taib today lodged a police report against blogsite Malaysia Today for carrying articles deemed to have insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

Statements and comments posted in the blogsite dated July 11 were deemed to have contravened the Penal Code, Sedition Act and the Communication and Multimedia Act, he told reporters after lodging the report at the Tun H.S. Lee police station here.

"It was over a report which had insulted the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the monarchy. It had also insulted and poked fun at Islam as the official religion of the federation."

Muhammad said comments posted on the blogsite also incited hate betweem the various races and could affect unity and national security.

The Kelana Jaya Umno division leader said he had been advised against divulging the statements and comments to the media as they were too sensitive.

"As responsible citizens, we cannot allow such articles to be posted on blogsites and urged the authorities to act in accordance with the law," he added.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today the government is not on a witch hunt for bloggers.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=275035]

Malaysia Not Secular State, Says Najib - Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, July 17 (Bernama) -- Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said Tuesday Malaysia is not a secular state but an Islamic nation with its own interpretation.

He said the country had never been affiliated to secularism but was always driven by the fundamentals of Islam as it is clearly stated in the constitution that Islam is the official religion.

"Islam is the official religion and we are an Islamic state. But as an Islamic state, it does not mean that we don't respect the non-Muslims. The Muslims and the non-Muslims have their own rights (in this country)," he told reporters after officiating the "International Conference on the Role of Islamic States in a Globalised World" on behalf of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi at a hotel here.

The conference is organised by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia (Ikim). Ikim chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Sarji Abdul Hamid and director-general Dr Syed Ali Tawfik Al-Attas were present.

Najib was asked whether Malaysia was seemingly moving towards being a secular state.

"I have to correct you. We have never been secular because being secular by Western definition means separation of the Islamic principles in the way we govern a country.

[More at http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news.php?id=273699]

Apologise or face action, BN leaders tell Tian Chua - The Star

TANGKAK: Say sorry! That is what several Umno and MCA leaders want Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) information chief Tian Chua to do to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak over a doctored picture depicting Najib with Abdul Razak Baginda and a woman alleged to be Altantuya Shaaribu that was posted on the Internet.

While Najib said yesterday that he would not make any comment at the moment over the doctored photo, his colleagues gave Tian Chua an ultimatum to apologise or face legal action.

Najib said he would, for the time being, let the people vent their anger at Tian Chua.

“There is no need for me to comment on the matter at present,” he said.

Tian Chua had said the photograph, which he had created personally, was merely a fantasy and a work of art.

However, Tian Chua insisted that he would not retract the photograph or apologise to anyone.

[More at http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2007/7/8/nation/18246748&sec=nation]