Warning on using Net, SMS to spread rumours
2nd August 2006 (NST)
By Sean Augustin

KUALA TERENGGANU: Beware! Those spreading malicious comments and rumours can be detained and their websites or blogs investigated.

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said such activities could affect peace and harmony in the country.

The Prime Minister said they could also make the people, including investors, lose faith in the economy and development programmes.

"We cannot allow the Internet or Short Messaging Service (SMS) to become a platform for people to spread rumours or threaten others," he told reporters after visiting the Islamic Civilisation theme park site here yesterday.

Abdullah was responding to Information Minister Datuk Zainuddin Maidin's call yesterday for control over the Internet.

Zainuddin had said that the Internet was sometimes used to spread allegations that threatened national security and racial harmony as some of the contents touched on Islam and Malay rights.

Abdullah said the Government would closely monitor the content of Internet websites and blogs that published seditious material.

Abdullah added that the sort of liberty found in blogs and websites had exceeded the freedom given to the Malaysian media.

"These people are practising the sort of freedom where they spread lies if they felt like doing so. How can we have that? Where can you find that sort of freedom in the world?" he asked.

Abdullah was earlier briefed on the progress of the Islamic Civilisation theme park at Pulau Wan Man which is expected to be completed late next year.