Thursday, August 28, 2008

Malaysia-Today is dead

Tell all your friends and family that Malaysia Today has died.
It died at 6.00pm on 26 August 2008.

Raja Petra Kamarudin no longer owns Malaysia Today.
Raja Petra may have started the original Malaysia Today.
But he does not own it any more.

Malaysia Today has been replaced by the son of Malaysia Today.
It is now called MT Harapan Malaysia, and
you can access it at mt.harapanmalaysia.com .

The son said he wants to avenge the death of its father. That's what he says.
And he is getting fiercer.


The Government said that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (SKMM) was acting within its authority when it directed all 19 ISPs in the country to block access to the Malaysia Today news portal.

It was reported on Thursday that notices to the ISPs were sent out on Tuesday in accordance with Section 263 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Section 263 falls under the National Interest Matters part of the Act which states that an SKMM licensee would prevent their facilities from being used in, or in relation to, the commission of any offence under any law of Malaysia.

It also states that upon written request of the SKMM or any other authority, the licensee would assist to prevent the commission or attempted commission of any offence under any written law of Malaysia, including but not limited to the protection of public revenue and the preservation of national security.

Malaysia Today editor Raja Petra Kamaruddin said that blocking access to his portal was a breach of the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) charter and that he would turn it into "a big issue."

Under MSC Malaysia's 10-Point Bill of Guarantees, it is stated that that Government promised to “ensure no Internet censorship” as part of its commitment to ensuring the success of MSC status companies.

National Alliance of Bloggers interim president Ahirudin Attan said while it was obvious that the Government would say it was not censorship, the blocking of the popular website was definitely considered censorship.

Jelutong MP and a blogger himself, Jeff Ooi said that SKMM has neglected Section 3 of the Act, which ends with the statement, "Nothing in this Act shall be construed as permitting the censorship of the Internet.”

"The Commission is not the final judge to decide what is good and what is bad for Malaysians.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemned the blocking of the site saying the action went against national commitments spelt out under MSC Malaysia's Bill of Guarantees.

"The Commission and the Government should acknowledge that the problem at hand is the failure of the mainstream media to fulfil its duties in reporting information adequately, truthfully and fairly," CIJ executive director V. Gayathry said in a statement.

In his blog, MCA vice-president Datuk Ong Tee Keat said he hoped that the SKMM would reconsider its decision and that he was a “little surprised and disturbed” about what had happened.

“Under the Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Bill of Guarantees, the government promised there would be no censorship of the Internet. I do not understand why the SKMM is resorting to this.”

“We should let the courts decide his (Raja Petra) fate,” Ong said, adding that forcibly blocking access to the website would only lend more credence to his writings.

“In fact, it is foolish to think that online censorship works effectively. There are still many other ways for surfers to access the portal.”

Telecommunications expert Dinesh Nair said it would be extremely difficult for SKMM to completely block the website although there were more technical ways to make the site inaccessible.

"All he (Raja Petra) has to do is to change the website address. If they want to block it again, they would have to issue more letters. He may have lost some viewers for a couple of days but it would be back to normal soon."

Dinesh added that although he did not agree with what SKMM had done, he could see "where they were coming from."

"It is one thing when you are saying something and it's an opinion but something else when you are putting it across as fact when it isn't," he said.

Deputy Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Joseph Salang Gandum said he was not aware of SKMM’s directive to the ISPs.

“SKMM may have briefed the minister on the issue but not me,” he said.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek, when asked to comment, said, “I am aware of the issue but it is not under my jurisdiction.”


Source: The Star

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Doc, technically speaking, Malaysia-today.net is a domain own by RPK register under ICANN.

It is just because TMNET choose to make the domain name "invisible" to TMNET user. Using any other DNS(Domain name services) , anyone in Malaysia can still access the site.

This is NOT the first time MCMC "censored" the net. They have TMNET block some offshore financial site last year.

Unknown said...

RPK,
please dont be stupid. your action would make Malaysian look stupid and people who use IT as carik makan, would suffer if foreign investor ran away, like google DR center (if they know the story).
your stupid ideology fighting should be centered at the leaders not at expense of rakyat. you would be no better than Pak Lah or Najib if you make this an issue.
Stupid RPK!

Anonymous said...

Habis lah Mav, we are turning to dictatorship style of country now. Sooner of later, they will even ban all sort of internet activities that blow their covers.
We are definitely going backwards! But the most disturbing thing is there actually seem to be people(Malaysians) who supports this!
Goodness gracious!

Anonymous said...

RPK has always displayed he is several steps ahead of the goons. Again he has shown this with his new mt.harapanmalaysia.com.

shutting down his website does kill off the problem, it only ferments / forments. the issues were not resolved, it manifests again and again in different forms. people reading the website abroad can always forward excerpts to their friends and colleagues in Msia. and email is just as fast.

unless steps are taken to tackle them, or, confront RPK in court ( which he is prepared anyway, from his actions,...) UMNO is not looking at their problems in the eye. and it will not go away.

Jefus

Anonymous said...

oops,...

hutting down his website does NOT kill off the problem,

Jefus

Anonymous said...

These idiots will do anything to get their way. Same goes to the DNA Bill. Coming next is the Sumpah Bill!

Anonymous said...

now, the ministers are washing their hands knowing the dire consequence of breaching non-censorship guarantee under the MSC bill. google centre is definitely not coming our way with this stupid act.
and the only Minister strongly supporting this censorship is none other than the moronic fella who believes setting up roadblocks in Klang valley is esential to the security of the nation due to the by-election in Permatang Pauh. No wonder we just lost an island to our neighbour. Whats the next damage you gonna do, Mr Minister in charge of moronic affairs?

Anonymous said...

reminds me of the story.

'an american went to russia and said that he can scold the US President outside the parlimen building and nobody can stop him.

he turn to the russian and smilingly ask if he can do the same.

the russian said sure, he can go anywhere in Moscow, scold the US president, and even get others to join him too. no big deal.'

hmm.. are we turning into a nation like mynmar?

Maverick SM said...

Moo_t,

This is what RPK wants to be propagated.

Toolan,

Let's brace for whatever is coming.

Jefus,

They knows, we knows; but the executives don't care.

Hasilox,

Hahahaha... I like the Sumpah Bill.

Anonymous said...

MCMC sedang mimpi lah. Mana Malaysia Today boleh dihapuskan?