RM10, 000 fined for defacing Perak Sultan

Azrin Md Zain, 33, a private school laboratory assistant was fined RM10,000 in default of five months jail by the Sessions Court here today for posting comments insulting the Sultan of Perak on a website. This is the first case in the country's legal history.

He pleaded guilty to posting the comments at http://books.dreambook.com/duli/duli.html which is linked to the Sultan of Perak's website, www.sultan.perak.gov.my , with intention to offend others.

Azrin said he regretted his action and that it occurred when he was busy surfing the website on buying shares. In fury he had entered the website and made the comments which he should not have.

He committed the offence at No 8, Jalan Aminuddin Baki, Taman Tun Dr Ismail,at 9.12pm on Feb 9. The offence under section 233 (1)(a) of the Multimedia Communication Act1998 carries a maximum RM50,000 fine or a minimum one year's jail on conviction.

Rozana Ali Yusoff, in passing sentence, said Azrin should not have committed the offence because it would have an impact on others. She said that she had to impose a deterrent sentence in the public interest.

Bloggers to be charge for defacing Perak Sultan website

Bloggers should be responsible and professional otherwise face the consequences for what they had done.

Six people will be charged under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998 for defacing the Perak Sultan’s website in a move which is aimed at quelling the avalanche of criticisms against the royalty.
The six persons to be prosecuted will be the first people to be charged under Section 233 of the Multimedia and Communications Act 1998.

Under the section it is an offence to make unwise use of network or network services by making comments, demands, suggestions or communication deemed vulgar, false, threatening or disturbing.

The six face a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term of of one year or both. It is reported that immediately after Sultan Azlan Shah denied Datuk Seri Nizar Jamaluddin’s request to dissolve the Perak legislature in February and instead appointed Datuk Seri Dr Zambry Abdul Kadir as Menteri besar, the ruler’s website came under attack. Sultan Azlan Shah’s website was “flamed” with personal attacks with all sorts of accusations made against the ruler.

In various blogs and websites, he has come under intense criticism from writers and readers alike. The attacks against Sultan Azlan Shah sparked off controversy with Umno championing the royalty and accusing those who attacked the monarchy of being disloyal.

Press told not to play up bloggers' influence

Zainuddin said he did not believe bloggers had a big influence on the people as they lacked credibility. Read this story reported by BERNAMA on September 4, 2007.

Information Minister Datuk Seri Zainuddin Maidin has reminded the print media, especially newspapers, not to confuse the public about bloggers’ influence.

“A number of newspapers have created the impression that bloggers have a big influence on the people,” he told reporters after the launching of Radio24 here today.

He questioned the need of these newspapers to give credit to bloggers when the number of blogsite audience did not reflect the actual local readership.

“Who actually reads bloggers’ websites? Most of them are intellectuals while those in rural areas, who wield a greater power in political elections, do not read these websites,” he said.

Zainuddin said he did not believe bloggers had a big influence on the people as they lacked credibility.

Zainuddin said bloggers’ credibility would disappear especially when they join certain political parties.

Meanwhile, he said, the launch of Radio24 today was the government’s new approach in disseminating information accurately and quickly.

“I hope Radio24 will become a main media source for the public despite the stiff competition from the various media channels,” he said.

Earlier, Zainuddin launched the first news and information radio station in Malaysia, Radio24, that is run by the Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) through frequency 93.9fm.