Monday, October 18, 2004

Author of insulting remark identified

KUALA LUMPUR: The man who wrote insulting remarks about Islam on a website has been identified.

Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik, who disclosed this, said the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission had identified him as a laboratory technician in his 30s.

The man, a Muslim, had used the Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Hospital portal to access the website, Lim told a press conference after chairing a Gerakan central committee meeting here yesterday.

"I am very surprised that a Muslim can do this to a fellow Muslim," he said.

"We know who he is and we have already interviewed him. He admitted that he posted those comments on the Jeff Ooi website.

"Although he regretted his action, we will be taking action against him," said Lim, who is the Gerakan president.

The commission and the police have not yet decided whether to charge the man under the Communications and Multimedia Act or the Criminal Procedure Code, he said, adding that the police charge carries a heavier penalty.

"We are preparing a case and will hand it to the Attorney-General, and leave it to him how to charge the man," he said.

Asked if the man, who called himself “Anwar� belonged to any political party, Dr Lim said he did not know.

"Anwar," in the blog post, had likened Islam Hadhari and money politics to faeces and urine.

His remarks, particularly on Islam Hadhari, raised anger among Muslims with some newspapers hitting out at the blogger for allowing such posts on his blog.

(A blog is an Internet site that collects and shares information in the form of political commentaries, personal diary, personal thoughts and links to other websites.)

Dr Lim called on party members to be cautious and not to resort to using extreme religious and racial issues to climb the political ladder.

He said there were some quarters in and outside political parties trying to use extreme racial and religious issues.

Dr Lim said it was important that the country continued to create wealth so that people would not start looking inwards and get restless.

The Star, Malaysia

Ketentuan nasib ‘Anwar’

Oleh AL-ABROR MOHD YUSUF

KUALA LUMPUR: 'Anwar' yang menyertai laman 'web blog' Screenshots sehingga menimbulkan kontroversi baru-baru ini, akan mengetahui nasibnya dalam tempoh terdekat apabila Pejabat Peguam Negara membuat keputusan mengenainya, tidak lama lagi.

Menurut Menteri Tenaga, Air dan Komunikasi, Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yeik, pihak berkuasa sudah mengenalpasti 'Anwar' dan menyoal siasatnya, baru-baru ini.

"Hasil siasatan akan diserahkan kepada Pejabat Peguam Negara dan terserah kepada mereka untuk mengambil tindakan selanjutnya," katanya selepas mempengerusikan mesyuarat Jawankuasa Pusat Gerakan di Cheras, dekat sini, semalam.

Lim berkata, 'Anwar' adalah lelaki beragama Islam dan bertugas sebagai juruteknik makmal di Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM).

Lim berkata, 'Anwar' berusia 30-an itu mengaku mengirim komennya mengenai Islam Hadhari ke 'web blog' Screenshots kelolaan Jeff Ooi.

"Walaupun dia menyatakan kekesalannya (kerana mengirim komen ke Screenshots) kita akan mengambil tindakan ke atasnya," katanya.

Menurut Lim, dua pilihan boleh diambil polis dan Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia terhadap 'Anwar', iaitu menggunakan peruntukan yang disediakan melalui Kanun Acara Jenayah atau Akta Komunikasi dan Multimedia.

Katanya, dia juga terkejut kerana sebagai seorang Islam, 'Anwar' sanggup mengeluarkan kenyataan sebegitu kepada orang Islam lain.

Baru-baru ini, komen 'Anwar' menimbulkan rasa kurang senang rakyat Malaysia apabila dia menyamakan Islam Hadhari dan politik wang dengan najis dan air kencing.

Perdana Menteri, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, menganggap kenyataan itu sebagai menghasut dan boleh diambil tindakan.

Berikutan itu, polis Cawangan Khas Bukit Aman menjalankan siasatan terperinci, manakala Pusat Tindak Balas Kecemasan ICT Kebangsaan (Niser), berjaya mengesan 'Anwar' tidak lama kemudian.

Sementara itu, Gerakan menyatakan kebimbangannya terhadap sentimen perkauman dan keagamaan yang dimainkan parti politik negara ini.

Lim yang juga Presiden Gerakan berkata, ia perlu diredakan segera untuk membolehkan kewujudan Bangsa Malaysia yang diperjuangkan parti itu.

"Gerakan juga akan mengadakan rumah terbuka Depa Raya pada November depan," katanya.

Berita Harian Malaysia

From my previous post:
  • Laman web disiasat: Kementerian kaji tindakan terhadap isu hina Islam
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