After Nat Tan, then Raja Petra Kamarudin; and now the Senator Wants Tough Action Against Bloggers. Why?

“The lack of a specific act to supervise bloggers gave them the space to spread lies which touch the sensitivity of the community. It can become a threat to peace,” said Senator Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi when debating the Electronic Government Activities Bill 2007 in the Dewan Negara.

Senator Datuk Musa Sheikh Fadzir who spoke in support of Dr Puad said cyber crimes committed by bloggers could destroy the nation. “This is because there are leaders who use information posted on blogsites as reference. This posed a danger to the country,” he added.

What kind of tough action against bloggers?

Dr Puad said the government should not compromise with the bloggers and use existing laws like the Penal Code, Sedition Act 1948 and the Internal Security Act (ISA) against them.

3上議員促嚴懲部落客造謠
拿督立祖安週一（7月23日）說，蔡添強的做法顯示他沒教養，這種人理應被殺頭。他也對警方遲遲不採取行動對付蔡添強感到不解。*

Datuk Ridzuan said Mr Chua’s move shows that he was not educated, such people should be killed first. He also doesn’t understand why the police has not taken action against Mr Chua.

拿督慕沙則建議政府撤除這些不負責任的部落格作者的國籍，並將他們驅逐至外國，如澳洲。*

Datuk Musa suggested that the government remove these irresponsible blogger’s nationality and expelled them to foreign countries, such as Australia.

*translate by Google Translate.

Blogger, national security threat? Blogger = arrested?

I had mentioned this story in After blogger Nat Tan was arrested post entry. Well, in order to save your time for searching, allow me to copy and paste the story again at here. Hope you don’t mind.

I met a young Malaysian in his twenties (my friend’s friend) through Window Live Messenger. When I told him I write blog, immediately of his response to me was DON’T write blog. I felt curious and asked him why? He said I will get caught under ISA. I felt more curious and asked again why he said so. Well, the answer from him was read from newspaper (I believe he referred to the message of the news in newspapers).

Apparently the messages were reached to Malaysians. The misconception was implanted into Malaysians mind –

Blogger = Anti-Kerajaan
Blogger = Arrested under ISA/OSA/whatever A-lah

What about those bloggers write about their travel experience; their knowledge in particular area likes computer or cooking skills and etc? I myself had written several posts entry about my Langkawi trip recently in another blog of mine. My colleagues here like those posts. One of them told me she is planning to have vacation in Langkawi in the future. Anti-Kerajaan?

I just wonder why we don’t doubt twice to whatever information present in front of our eyes for example newspapers. Many of us just accept it without any question mark in his/her mind. Why? Can’t we change?

Cyber crime, what is that all about? I just wonder since when Bloggers have committed cyber crimes? We are not criminal, we are blogger only. Just another “holy” excuse to add on to Bloggers? What next?

Several letters in Malaysiakini really worth to spend your time to read on, please spare some time to read them.
~ Urban Malay
~ Dr Toh Kin Woon

[tehctags: ISA, Internal Security Act, Penal code, Sedition Act 1948, Senators, Malaysia, Blogger, Internet]

• Tough Action Against Bloggers?
• After blogger Nat Tan was arrested
• Leave bloggers in Malaysia alone! (4)
• Cyber police
• Code of ethics bloggers?
• Am my blog will put PM of Malaysia in danger?
• After Monkey, Goblok, now is Pondan

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