Malaysia Cracks Down on Bloggers
The Malaysian government has warned it could use tough anti-terrorism laws against bloggers who insult Islam or the country’s king.
The move comes as one of Malaysia’s leading online commentators has been questioned by police following a complaint by the main governing party.
The new rules would allow a suspect to be detained indefinitely, without being charged or put on trial. But officials insist the law is not intended to strangle internet freedom.
Raja Petra Kamarudin, the editor of one of Malaysia’s most popular political websites, Malaysia Today, turned himself in to police on Wednesday, to answer allegations that he had mocked Islam and threatened racial harmony.
Malaysia Today is believed to attract around a quarter of a million visitors a day, giving it more readers than most Malaysian newspapers.
Date: July 24, 2007
Reference: BBC News