Friday 29 August 2008

Dr M slams gov't for banning blog site

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today condemned the government for reneging on its long-held promise of not censoring the Internet - a policy in which he was the architect. (Malaysiakini)

"When a government makes a promise to the country and then reneges on its promise, then not only will the government lose credibility but also any respect that the public may have for it."

"I do not often agree with Malaysia-Today.net and (website editor) Raja Petra Kamaruddin. He had been sometimes quite irresponsible," said Mahathir in his Chedet blog.

"But court action had already been taken against him. He is not above the law and if he is found guilty there are already adequate punishment that can be passed against (him)."

PKR has also condemned the decision to block access to the Malaysian news portal as a desperate act by the shell-shocked Barisan Nasional (BN) government.( Malaysiakini )

Calling it the latest onslaught on civil liberties, the opposition party said the decision is tantamount to internet censorship.

"It is also a desperate act by the BN government that is still reeling fromits repeated defeats and refusing to listen to the clear signals demonstrated by the rakyat time and again via the ballot box.

The grounds given that Malaysia Today is a seditious website are completely baseless and unfounded in any principle of law, given that there are ample laws which govern such activities and there has yet to be a single court in all of Malaysia that has found the website to contain seditious content," PKR secretary-general Salahuddin Hashim said in a statement today.

"PKR calls upon the MCMC and the government to keep its promise to the MSC and to immediately revoke this order, and resist any temptation to arrogantly show callous disregard for the right of Malaysians to access alternative information," he said.

Yesterday that government-backed watchdog Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission had ordered all internet service providers (ISPs) in the country to block the website.

Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar defended the move, saying that Malaysia Today had been banned because it published "libelous, defamatory and slanderous" content.

13 comments:

Anonymous said...

i just dont understand the need to ban blog site.

people have right to say what they wanted (as long as there's no slander).we have our opinion to share.banning blogs feel as if banning our right to speak our mind.

Like Dr.M,i am also not in favor for Raja Petra but justice has been served.he got what he deserved.

this action to ban blog will only just add more hatred to the ruling govt.

i hope the govt will revaluate this matter thoroughly.

Unknown said...

"they can block our blog,
but never they can block our mind!".

tidak pasti apakah motif sebenar-benarnya untuk SKMM block website Malaysia Today.tindakan sedemikian hanya akan menyebabkan rakyat akan menjadi lebih marah dengan kerajaan.

Raja Petra sebenarnya tidak boleh dipercayai sepenuhnya tetapi SKMM tidak boleh menghalang dia untuk memberikan pendapat dia.rakyat Malaysia masih ada lagi yang waras untuk menentukan mana yang fakta dan mana yang fitnah.

Anonymous said...

I feel that Dr M is trying to be nice to RPK by defending him. RPK has to be careful & not turn a blind eye on Dr M's side. Dr M maybe old, but not stupid. Remember the saying " Keep your friends close, keep your enemies closer"?

Saya... said...

Tok Mom!

How your dad?

Porno sites many...tak block...also sites which show Malay girls being abused by Mat Rempits and very young malay girls having sex with older men...just see the VOBBO sites...mat salleh letak family videos, melayu kita letak porno...that one never mind TAK PAYAH CENSOR...because not THEIR children!

Altantuya also not their daughter, LANTAKLA KENA TEMBAK KAT KEPALA TGH2 HUTAN TU (just imagine how terrified)...as long as they and their families DUBIOS reputations protected!

GAMBAR NURIN CIRCULATED TAK PA...BUKAN ANAK DEPA!

Lee said...

Malaysia ageed that the internet should be free when it was promoting the so-called Multimedia Super Corrodor.Reneging on this promise will affect Malaysia's integrity internationally!Anyway trying to block people from visiting the socio-political site may be ineffective.Unlike the main stream media the internet websites and blogs may not be so easily controlled.The attempts may backfired on the government by making it more unpopular!

Perawi said...

Malaysia akan dapat PM baru dari Pakatan Rakyat melalui Tawaran lompat Parti..... Lelongan awan telah dibuka mulai sekarang kepada ahli parlimen Barisan Nasional - dgn jawatan yg ditawarkan menjadi Menteri & Timbalan Menteri. Siapa cepat dia dapat, Terhad 31 kekosongan sahaja ......macam pisang panas ini. Parti Bebas pun boleh juga memohon. Good by Najib & Pok Loh Hadhari

Anonymous said...

Dr M was just being consistent with what he believes. Not like other politicians who flip flop all the time. Not to mention those who renege on past principles;

http://www.utusan.com.my/utusan/arkib.asp?y=1998&dt=0120&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=hn_01.htm


S.K.T

Hi&Lo said...

What does Raja Petra gain from his expose^? He's not a politician with ambition. I think it's his sense of fair play. He's willing to pay the highest price possible.

Hyperbolic but more believeable than the sumpah2 put together.

Raja Petra is actually taunting the pembesar to take him to court so that he can spill more. That's what they are afraid of.

Anonymous said...

When power is given to a weak idiot he will turn into a monster. If that idiot is still in power for another 2 years...sayonara Malaysia!

Anonymous said...

Hi kak Ton,

my prayers for your dad. God willing, he will be better.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Hi michelle,

Thank you so much. We hope so.

Anonymous said...

Dear Kak Ton,

Read about Bapak's latest condition at Nuraina's. Do take care and be strong, I will pray with you.

maria a samad (kak ton) said...

Dear sesat,

Thank you, sis.

We pray that God will make it easy for him.