Minister Rais Yatim appeared in the dark over the directive, believed to have been issued via a circular by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).
“As far as I know, no,” he said when asked if the MCMC had indeed issued the directive when met after his ministry's post-cabinet meeting in Angkasapuri.
The alleged MCMC directive, widely reported by the online media, among others required all private television and radio broadcasters to submit daily reports detailing the number and content of reports related to Bersih 2.0.
Editors from electronic media organisations were also told to highlight the difficulties and inconvenience caused by the rally, while leaving out any footage of police using violence on protesters, during a one-day 'Content Monitoring Seminar 2011' in Cyberjaya yesterday.
Rais: Websites bound by laws
The MCMC also warned that it will shut down websites deemed a threat to national security, including those promoting the July 9 rally.
Rais pointed out that the government has no issues with websites that promote democracy, but stressed that whatever that is published must comply with existing laws.
Rais' deputy, Joseph Salang Gandum, later clarified that no order was issued to the MCMC to come up with the directive, implying that the ministry has no intention of limiting coverage of the rally by online news portals.
“No instructions were issued. They (online portals) are free to report (the rally), but demonstrations are not the way,” he said briefly.
Yesterday, MCMC chief strategy officer Mohamed Sharil Mohamed Tarmizi told the press that the commission would take action against websites promoting the Bersih 2.0 rally.
SMS circulating asking for money
Rais meanwhile urged Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein to “take appropriate action” regarding an SMS that he claimed was sent to him, his deputy minister and senior ministry officers, asking for money allegedly to bail out the Parti Socialis Malaysia (PSM) members detained last weekend and cover their families' expenses.
Rais stressed that it is illegal to publicly solicit for money, urging the public to ignore it if they receive the SMS and report it to either the MCMC or police.
The SMS, sent from an unknown number, allegedly seeks funds “to bail out our comrades and daily expenses” for the PSM detainees' families. It requested that donations be made to the PSM Centre's bank account.
Rais said however that he has not lodged a police report on the matter despite having received the SMS himself.
“I did not make a report. As Information Minister, I remind the people to be wary and to not agree to make contributions,” he said. - Malaysiakini
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