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Malaysia blocks access to popular news website

Uzbekistan News.Net
Thursday 28th August, 2008 (IANS)

Malaysia Thursday blocked access to a popular news website that often carries anti-government articles, sparking criticism of cyberspace censorship.

The extremely popular Malaysia Today website is run by Raja Petra Kamarudin, who was charged with sedition in May for allegedly implying that Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak was involved in the gruesome murder of a Mongolian woman.

Raja Petra has in the past been accused by the government of spreading lies and false rumours in his often sensational articles.

The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission, the country's industry regulator, ordered all local internet service providers to block the Malaysia Today website as of Thursday, Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar said.

'I think so many opportunities and warnings have been given which are not heeded,' he was quoted as saying by the official Bernama news agency.

He defended the move to block access to the site, saying the published contents were 'defamatory or slanderous to other people'.

Many local websites and blogs condemned the move, saying authorities were attempting to crack down on dissenting views.

The crackdown on Malaysia Today also drew criticism from bloggers and journalists who accused authorities of breaking its own promise of not censoring the internet.

'This just goes to show that they are afraid, they think they can control what the people read,' said James Tan, an avid blogger.

'But, they must realise the people have wised up.'

'You can block any website you want, we're just going to find other ways to get information,' he said.

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Comments on this story

shatz82
08-28-08, 10:07 PM

SHAMEFUL!!

This BN A**holes r just makin me sick to mah toes!!! They control every1 n e’thing as if the whole country belongs to them!!! Malaysians can never unite as long as BN rules d country. Kick 'em out n lets gve PR a chance to prove themselves!!

Not A Happy Camper
08-29-08, 10:16 AM

Desperate Measures

This pathetic government is deciding what the citizens can read! Needless to say, UMNO is backing itself into a corner. Mental midgets like Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar make this government an international joke. Remember that this whacko had also promulgated that females travelling alone must first get “permission” from husband or family members. But let me say no more, because,. . . who knows, The Malaysia Sun website could be blocked next

Anonymous
08-29-08, 10:32 AM

This pathetic government is deciding what its citizens may read! Needless to say, UMNO is backing itself into a corner. Mental midgets like Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar make this government an international joke. Remember that this whacko had also promulgated that females travelling alone must first get “permission” from husband or family members. But let me say no more, because,. . . who knows, The Malaysia Sun website could be blocked next

Not A Happy Camper
08-29-08, 10:17 AM

Desperate Measures

This pathetic government is deciding what the citizens can read! Needless to say, UMNO is backing itself into a corner. Mental midgets like Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar make this government an international joke. Remember that this whacko had also promulgated that females travelling alone must first get “permission” from husband or family members. But let me say no more, because,. . . who knows, The Malaysia Sun website could be blocked next

Shocked Malaysian
08-29-08, 10:33 AM

Desperate Measures

This pathetic government is deciding what its citizens may read! Needless to say, UMNO is backing itself into a corner. Mental midgets like Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar make this government an international joke. Remember that this whacko had also promulgated that females travelling alone must first get “permission” from husband or family members. But let me say no more, because,. . . who knows, The Malaysia Sun website could be blocked next

Shocked Malaysian
08-29-08, 10:34 AM

Desperate Measures

This pathetic government is deciding what the citizens can read! Needless to say, UMNO is backing itself into a corner. Mental midgets like Foreign Minister Syed Hamid Albar make this government an international joke. Remember that this whacko had also promulgated that females travelling alone must first get “permission” from husband or family members. But let me say no more, because,. . . who knows, The Malaysia Sun website could be blocked next

Macam Mana
08-29-08, 06:03 AM

UMNO really heading for Disaster

Who is afraid of Malaysiakini? Only the wolfs in sheep clothings. Time has come for a change. The Rakyat has spoken and you cannot stop the change. UNMO can sit alone without the other BN parties. Barisan National was never a Barisan National after Tunku gone. It was UMNO taking care of its interest and not the rakyat’s interest. Why need new parties if UMNO is sincere and straight in their dealings. May Allah help the racist UMNOs and PM.

tangkup
08-28-08, 09:47 AM

Malaysia blocks access to popular news website

Just to show that d Gomen is 'kuku besi'. where is the promise by PM Badawi that he will a good PM “for all Malaysians”.

Hi Mister James Tan please tell us when you find the “special way”. The world is dark w/out the MT website.

V
08-29-08, 07:04 AM

Malaysia blocks access to popular news website

If something is not TRUE,then why should we fear it??? When we react by banning stuff in the internet then we sparke off questions among the people as to wether what they’ve read is TRUE.How many mouths can we shut? Can they ban what we feel and think and talk??

housewife
08-29-08, 02:13 AM

why block yhe access to this website if you done nothing wrong???

It clearly shows that the government or should I say the UMNO people and ministers especially, are scared of their own shadows because if they do nothing wrong why do they have to block the access to this popular website? By not allowing people to have access to this website shows everything said in this website about them are nothing but the truth! and these so called VIPs decided to block it before more truth about their wrong doings will be spilled out to the people.
Syed Hamid Albar’s comments on the website being defamatory and slanderous are just his own views, maybe because he too was scared one day he’ll become the topic. The UMNO and the VIPs thought they can fool the people, but do they realise who choose them to be in their present wealth and luxury lifestyles. By being a dictator they are slowly becoming now, would mean they have to say goodbye to these lifestles soon because the next election they’ll lose even more states in Malaysia.

jepalau
08-28-08, 06:16 PM

yipes

a country that withholds news from their citisens is not a free country. The country doth protest to much and he would does is usually guilty. Leave blogger alone. Blocking and jailing just makes the citisen think worst because now there is a unknown. The unknown builds up in ones minds worst thoughts. If the there is truth to the stories then we as a country should take care of the problem. Allowing a cancer to grow in the government is not a good idea.

Anonymous
08-28-08, 06:55 PM

They are not whitholding news by blocking Malaysiakini, nobody can do that in this age. They don’t like those news and don’t know what to do with them, that’s all. Malaysia is not a free country because of a few ultra racist from some obscure Kampung, always coming out to incite hatred between races in Malaysia hoping to creat bloodshed, so they can grap benefit from the chaotic situation. Very common in backward country. AS the saying goes, you can’t fly with the turkey.

Nickhead
08-28-08, 10:21 PM

UMNO HEADING TO DISASTER

A successful Leader will accept Failure and Mistake. They will then rectify it, and put in effort to correct it. By giving all kind of excuses will only lead to disaster. The wound is there, giving Sweets does not heal the wound. The RAYAT need medicine, not ' SWEETS'. I just cannot understand, how his Adisory Board and Special Agent been advising him. The ACA is going after small Fish, which are causing frustration to the public then praise. Whereby the Big Fish is still swiming happily.


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