Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin's arrest was a warning to the growing online media
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http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/42152-wikileaks-opposition-journalist-detailed-under-the-internal-security-act- US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks and published in the online newspaper Malaysia Today deal with Malaysia Today editor and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s arrest in May 2008 under Malaysia’s Sedition Act and his detention without trial in September 2008 under Section 73 (1) of its Internal Security Act as a threat to public security. This was the second time that the blogger, also known as RPK, was detained under the ISA. According to the cables, RPK’s arrest was both a way to pressure opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and a warning to the growing online media. Then interior minister Syed Hamid himself publicly acknowledged that: “We have called and advised (RPK) many times following the publishing of his statements but he has continued to write.” Deputy interior minister Wan Farid said that bloggers could not expect to be able to post “anything” without consequences and that RPK’s arrest was a warning to all netizens. Reaffirming the US government’s commitment to freedom of expression, the US embassy recognized in the cables that RPK had been jailed solely because of his journalistic work. “We are aware that Raja Petra also faces legal complaints and charges of sedition related to information posted on the website,” one of the cables said. “The United States firmly believes that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are fundamental components of a vibrant democracy. Freedom of expression is a basic right embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The peaceful expression of political views is a cornerstone of democratic rights and practice, as is the impartial application of the rule of law. As a matter of principle, we hope that countries refrain from using national security laws to curtail the peaceful expression of political views and media freedom.” RPK was arrested for “insulting a political leader” and “insulting Islam.” In an article headlined “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell,” he wrote that then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor may have been involved in the murder of a young Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu. Syed Ali Akhbar, an Internet user who posted a comment on the article was also arrested. According to the cables, RPK’s arrest undermined then Prime Minister Adbullah’s efforts to portray himself as a reformist. The first time RPK was detained without trial under Section 73 (1) of the ISA was in Sungai Buloh (near Kuala Lumpur) in April 2001, when he was held for 53 days. Malaysia was included in the “Countries under surveillance” in the report on “Enemies of the Internet” that Reporters Without Borders released on 11 March.
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http://malaysia-today.net/mtcolumns/42152-wikileaks-opposition-journalist-detailed-under-the-internal-security-act- US diplomatic cables released by WikiLeaks and published in the online newspaper Malaysia Today deal with Malaysia Today editor and blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s arrest in May 2008 under Malaysia’s Sedition Act and his detention without trial in September 2008 under Section 73 (1) of its Internal Security Act as a threat to public security. This was the second time that the blogger, also known as RPK, was detained under the ISA. According to the cables, RPK’s arrest was both a way to pressure opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim and a warning to the growing online media. Then interior minister Syed Hamid himself publicly acknowledged that: “We have called and advised (RPK) many times following the publishing of his statements but he has continued to write.” Deputy interior minister Wan Farid said that bloggers could not expect to be able to post “anything” without consequences and that RPK’s arrest was a warning to all netizens. Reaffirming the US government’s commitment to freedom of expression, the US embassy recognized in the cables that RPK had been jailed solely because of his journalistic work. “We are aware that Raja Petra also faces legal complaints and charges of sedition related to information posted on the website,” one of the cables said. “The United States firmly believes that freedom of the press and freedom of speech are fundamental components of a vibrant democracy. Freedom of expression is a basic right embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The peaceful expression of political views is a cornerstone of democratic rights and practice, as is the impartial application of the rule of law. As a matter of principle, we hope that countries refrain from using national security laws to curtail the peaceful expression of political views and media freedom.” RPK was arrested for “insulting a political leader” and “insulting Islam.” In an article headlined “Let’s send the Altantuya murderers to hell,” he wrote that then Deputy Prime Minister Najib Razak and his wife Rosmah Mansor may have been involved in the murder of a young Mongolian woman, Altantuya Shaariibuu. Syed Ali Akhbar, an Internet user who posted a comment on the article was also arrested. According to the cables, RPK’s arrest undermined then Prime Minister Adbullah’s efforts to portray himself as a reformist. The first time RPK was detained without trial under Section 73 (1) of the ISA was in Sungai Buloh (near Kuala Lumpur) in April 2001, when he was held for 53 days. Malaysia was included in the “Countries under surveillance” in the report on “Enemies of the Internet” that Reporters Without Borders released on 11 March.
Published on
Updated on
25.01.2016
