The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today confirmed that it has blocked access to news portal The Malaysian Insider, via Malaysian internet service providers (ISPs).
However, it did not mention how the portal flouted Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, which deals with abuse of communications networks.
The MCMC in a statement said the ban was following “public complaints” and reminded news portals not to publish unverified reports.
“MCMC reminds news portals not to spread or publish articles whose veracity has yet to be confirmed.
“This could invite confusion and cause unwanted situations,” it said in a statement.
While MCMC did not specify it, among articles published by The Malaysian Insider today cited a source as saying that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has “credible evidence to frame charges” against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
The report cites an unnamed MACC operations review panel member.
"The MACC investigators had collected sufficient evidence to prove a prima facie case against Najib," the panel member told The Malaysian Insider.
As at 7.17pm, The Malaysian Insider is only inaccessible to readers via Celcom and Unifi ISPs.
Worse yet to come
Meanwhile, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan warned that the worst has yet to come.
“If it’s true that TMI was blocked because it published a story on MACC having enough proof to charge the prime minister over the SRC money, then that's a cavalier use of the law,” he said.
According to Gan, Malaysiakini is preparing for the eventuality that the country’s number one website could be similarly blocked by the government.
“Should this be the case, we urge our readers to go to Malaysiakini’s Facebook page for the latest updates.” -Mkini
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