MCMC issues stern warning against Internet abuse

KUALA LUMPUR (Bernama)— The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has warned of stern action against those publishing offensive, indecent, sensitive content about race and religion in the Internet that can pose a threat to national security and unity.

MCMC said action had been taken against websites, blogs and news portals that abused the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Offenders found guilty would be charged under section 211 or 233 of the Act, which deems it an offence to post a comment which is offensive in character with the intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.

“Action taken will include issuing notice or warning, barring websites or blogs under section 263(2) and start investigations based on the provisions of the Act,” said MCMC in a statement today.

Any action that constitutes a contravention of Malaysian laws in the offline world also constitutes an offence in the online world, including the Internet, the MCMC statement said.

Legal action can also be taken against offenders with the consent of the Attorney-General’s office.

MCMC added that since early this year, 533 complaints on abuse of the Internet, particularly those involving social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, were received.

Yesterday, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said that following the many complaints, a special team was formed together with the police to handle threats to national security and unity channelled via the Internet. — Bernama