MCMC investigating 'Christian conspiracy' blogs

Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is carrying out investigations on two bloggers reported to have posted articles alleging there are moves to make Christianity the official religion of the federation.

He added that the commission was expected to send investigation papers to the attorney-general for further action after investigations are completed.

Rais' remarks follow on the heels of postings by two bloggers alleging Christian pastors in a meeting in Penang about a week ago had deliberated on moves to turn Malaysia into a Christian state and for a Christian to be installed as prime minister.

Their postings served as the basis for an Utusan Malaysia frontpaged article on the purported Christian conspiracy. The allegations have been vehemently denied by Christian leaders.

Following police reports and counter-reports on the matter, eight pastors have since been interviewed by the police and had their statements recorded.

On another matter, Rais told reporters in conjunction with World Telecommunication and Information Society Day 2011 tomorrow that while no restrictions have been imposed on the dissemination of information in cyberspace, Internet users are still required to heed the laws.

In a press conference in his office, Rais reminded users not to abuse this freedom by using technology for crimes.

"I would like to emphasise that when we say no restriction on the Internet, it does not mean a person is free from the laws. If a person commits a cyber crime, he will not escape legal action.

"We don't want the community to think because we say free, it means they can do anything. Our laws must still be respected," Bernama reported him as saying.

He said the government, through Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Act exercises control over the Internet including on cyber crimes and those related to sedition and pornography.

In relation to that, he said for a start, three MCMC officers were expected to take part in a multimedia forensics course to equip them with skills on tackling cyber crimes.

He said the ministry was looking at such courses in the United States, United Kingdom and Australia and that a senior MCMC officer was currently in Geneva for initial interactions on how their officers could learn the new skills.