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(The Nut Graph) PETALING JAYA, 11 Sept 2009: The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC)'s investigation of Malaysiakini this week is not the first time the online news site has been harassed or threatened by the state.

In fact, Malaysiakini has experienced harassment and received threats from state agencies and government leaders under the previous administration of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, and now, under Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

"Press freedom hasn't improved a lot over the last 10 years," said Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan in a phone interview with The Nut Graph. The news site turns 10 years old this year.

"The government has a long track record of muzzling the [traditional] media. They have the mindset that they want to clamp down on us. Although there is the 'no censorship' pledge for online media, the mindset is still the same."

Last week, the MCMC directed Malaysiakini to remove two video reports from its site and from YouTube. The first video showed the 28 Aug 2009 cow-head protest in Shah Alam where the protestors threatened bloodshed if a Hindu temple was relocated to their neighbourhood. The second video was of Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein's 2 Sept press conference where he defended the cow-head protestors.

MCMC officers questioned Malaysiakini staff for eight hours on 8 Sept on the two videos. Seven members of the MCMC visited Malaysiakini again on 10 Sept and demanded for the original tapes of the recording of the event. They also asked to copy the hard disks of two computers that were used to upload the videos.

The current investigation is under Sections 211 and 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998 which prohibits the provision of content which is "indecent, obscene, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person."

Read more at: http://www.thenutgraph.com/threatened-under-all-three-pms

Comments (8)

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written by EDLYK, September 11, 2009 11:35:23

GE13 - Vote for Pakatan please

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written by Concerned_Citizen, September 11, 2009 11:56:45

Vote for BeeNd to hell.

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written by wongnoball, September 11, 2009 11:59:52

we know ..... MCMC Next building to be burnt down soon....like MACC....all Murderers and trying to stifle flow of TRUTH. All part of the Murderous Regim Ganas Bunuh UMNO. MCMC also tax payers funded to Prop Up Regim UMNO....do your bit those in Putra Jaya!!...I want to smell smoke and hear Fire engine Siren!!

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written by SocratesI, September 11, 2009 12:08:23

It all started with Maha-ShitHead and was carried on by Bodohwee and Najis Rosak. They are only interested in staying in power and plundering Malaysia, while we Malaysians are always interested in the TRUTH

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written by mick_err_stan, September 11, 2009 12:08:42

The videos were not "indecent, obscene, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person. In fact the video provide proof of Racism, Hooliganism, Stupidity, Moronic behavior and injustice.

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written by 1st2stay, September 11, 2009 16:10:57

It simply boggles the sane mind.
Let the whole world know, that recently the Malaysian government instructed the regulators to 'encourage' to take down a video.
Which video? Video of what?
A video of a press conference of the Malaysian Home Minister. Unedited, unmodified, just cameras rolling along while the press conference was held. Simply recording the press conference given by the Home Minister of Malaysia. Three days later, this same video, documenting the press conference of the Malaysian Home Minister is considered by the Government of Malaysia to insult the feelings of the population.
What was it, that the Home Minister had said, that it could insult and hurt the feelings of the Malaysian people? Then, why did he say it? And what is the idea of press freedom, of freedom of expression, when showing the video of the press conference of the Malaysian Home Minister is considered 'too strong' to be left at public access?
And, naturally, why is Malaysiakini attacked, when the only thing they ever did, was making the video of the press conference of the Home Minister of Malaysia public? What is the purpose of a press conference, if not inviting the press and asking the press to make the content of the press conference public?

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written by Bloodhound, September 11, 2009 19:51:49

This is purely harassment and intimidation.

Unless they are idiots, they are barking up the wrong tree intentionally to intimidate Malaysiakini.

What's so obscene or annoying about the Hishammuddin's press conference video? If he dares to open his mouth and is stupid enough to utter nonsense or incriminating speeches bordering incitement, then, he is responsible for what he spews and the police should be summoning him for an exclusive interview on the matter.

Malaysiakini is only reporting on their stupidity or matters of great significance for the nation and trying to expunge what actually happened will not help bring peace to the country.

The only thing that will ensure a peaceful nation is to get rid of these idiots who acts without any thought for the harmony of the nation.

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written by Kathy, September 12, 2009 01:04:53

I am progressively losing the words to express my disgust at each stupid governmental action. If this carries on I will become dumb.

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