http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/70252
Umno lodges report against Malaysia Today
Jul 23, 07 2:46pm

Umno has filed a police report against political website Malaysia
Today for allegedly publishing disparaging remarks against the King
and Islam.

The report was filed at the Dang Wangi police station by Umno
information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib this afternoon. He was
accompanied by some 30 people.

When contacted, Dang Wangi district police chief ACP Mohamad
Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman confirmed that a report was lodged.

"We will investigate the matter," he told malaysiakini. Raja Petra is
to be investigated under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and the
Multimedia and Communications Act.

Taib told reporters later that the report was regarding remarks
published on the website on July 11 and several other articles.

He claimed that the postings and articles were disrespectful to the
King and Islam.

"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," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

According to him, comments posted on the blogsite also incited hate
between the various races and could affect unity and national security.

"The reports contain criminal elements which could incite anyone and
cause fear. Maybe these people (bloggers) had forgotten that Malaysia
is a country with many sensitivities," he said.

Taib, who is Kelana Jaya Umno division leader, said such postings and
articles could have a negative influence on the younger generation and
urged for the police to take swift action.

He added that 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."

Conspiracy theory

In an article published on Malaysia Today, Raja Petra (left) wrote on
the possibility of efforts being mounted to close his website down and
have him arrested.

In the article titled 'A game of cat and mouse', he claimed that the
"intelligence community" informed him that Sabah Chief Minister Musa
Aman and Inspector-General of Police Musa Hassan had met Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi in Australia recently to discuss this
matter.

Malaysia Today had published numerous articles containing allegations
of corruption and abuse of power against the chief minister and police
chief, which had since been denied.

The website had also been highly critical of the prime minister and
his son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin, who is also Umno Youth deputy chief.

Meanwhile, Raja Petra, when contacted later, declined to comment on
the report.

The police report today came hot in the heels of the July 13 arrest of
blogger and PKR webmaster Nathaniel Tan (left) under the Official
Secrets Act. Tan, who was detained for four days, was released on
police bail last Tuesday.

Deputy Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak today denied that the flurry
of police reports made against the bloggers was a crackdown.

"Our country has laws which must be respected," he told reporters at a
function today.


FAQ: Sedition Act 1948 (article appeared on Jan 21, 2003 after the
police raid on Malaysiakini)