DAR AL ISLAM - INDONESIA: THE MODERATE ISLAMIC NATION IS GOING AFTER BLOGGERS

Action against 'flaming' blogs: Belittle the king or Islam and you face the music
By : V. Vasudevan

KUALA LUMPUR: "The time for talk is over, now is the time to act." With this warning shot, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said the government would be taking legal action against bloggers who flagrantly belittled Islam or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

He told the Dewan Negara yesterday that three laws could be used against the bloggers: The Internal Security Act (ISA), Sedition Act and Section 121b of the Penal Code.

Section 121b deals with offences against the authority of the king, ruler or Yang DiPertua Negeri and carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

Speaking at the Malaysian Press Institute Press Awards Night here yesterday, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said the government was deeply troubled by the growth of "irresponsible" alternative media.

"In the name of freedom, these websites allow the broadcast of slander, lies and swearing, the use of harsh, degrading language and racial slurs without regard for the reader or those concerned," he said.

"Even though the government has been tolerant of anti-government positions and criticisms on the Internet, we are very concerned about statements that insult religion and reek of racism."

Najib said webmasters and web journalists were not exempted from the laws of the country and the government was duty-bound to protect the peace.

"We will not permit any party to disturb the nation’s harmony and cause unease among the community," he said.

Nazri said the government was looking at formulating new laws allowing it to monitor and act against offending bloggers.

"This is in areas not provided for by the ISA, Sedition Act or Section 121b of the Penal Code," he said.

...




Pertinent Links:

1) Action against 'flaming' blogs: Belittle the king or Islam and you face the music