ISA, SEDITION ACT AND PENAL CODE AGAINST ‘FLAMING’ BLOGS

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz said three laws could be used against the bloggers who flagrantly belittled Islam or the Yang di-Pertuan Agong : The Internal Security Act (ISA), Sedition Act and Section 121b of the Penal Code, New Straits Times reported on Wednesday, 25 July 2007.

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

During the Dewan Negara debate on the Electronic Government Activities Bill 2007, he 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 and the proposed legislation was not intended to strangle the freedom of the Internet."

"This is to put a stop to the freedom to lie in the blogosphere. We want blogs to be clean, a place to obtain accurate information, a reference point for honest opinion, not a platform to abuse and slander people. The government had lost its patience with bloggers who broke the law and it could not be "seen as impotent or weak" in the face of their defiance."

He said bloggers had come to believe they were like members of parliament, who enjoyed immunity to say what they wanted under the law. But the reality is that, despite the immunity, MPs and senators have to play by some basic rules.

Nazri told senators that writings describing Islam as "a big lie fabricated by Arabs who had put a huge rock(the Kaabah)in the middle of the desert were not only ill-mannered but could provoke anger among Muslims".

Speaking at the Malaysian Press Institute Press Awards Night 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. 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," he said.

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.