Blogger behind attacks on Robert Kuok should be charged: Kulai MP

KUALA LUMPUR: Blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin (RPK) should be charged with publishing false and offensive articles about billionaire Tan Sri Robert Kuok in his blog, said Kulai MP Teo Nie Ching.
She has urged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to charge RPK for committing the offence following its order for him to remove the articles.

She said MCMC's instruction to remove the articles stating that they violated Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, showed that the impugned articles are "false, menacing or offensive" and were published with ill intention.
"MCMC should not just order RPK to remove the articles, but they should also charge him under the same section," she said in a statement today.
A person who commits an offence under Section 233 shall be liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or jail term of not more than one year, or both, and shall be liable to a further fine of RM1,000 every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.
Kuok came under severe criticism from Umno supreme council members and ministers including Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz, Datuk Tajuddin Abdul Rahman, Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor and Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said for allegedly funding DAP and news portal The Malaysian Insight.
Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the government will step in and restore order to the internet if bloggers and social media users fail to act responsibly.
"Don't allow it to come to a stage where action needs to be taken against abusers of the internet and social media," he warned.
In this regard, MCMC may be asked to monitor social media, Bernama quoted him as saying.
"After all, if you're educated enough to use social media, then you should be educated enough to differentiate between right and wrong," Salleh said on his blog at sskeruak.blogspot.my.
He noted that of late, bloggers and social media users had been acting quite recklessly in what they posted on the internet.
"This has intensified probably due to the upcoming general election where temperatures and sentiments are running high. We must not allow tempers to jeopardise the peace, harmony and stability of Malaysia," he said.
He emphasised, notwithstanding the laws that controlled the abuse of social media such as the publishing of fake news, seditious and libellous postings and so on, bloggers and social media users should be sensible and responsible enough to practice self-censorship.
"Why wait until the government needs to act or clamp down on the abuse of the internet? Malaysians know what's socially acceptable and what's offensive," he added.