The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has instructed Raja Petra Kamaruddin to remove three articles regarding billionaire Robert Kuok as the articles had violated Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act says that:
“Improper use of network facilities or network service, etc.
233. (1) A person who—
(a) by means of any network facilities or network service or applications service knowingly— (i) makes, creates or solicits; and (ii) initiates the transmission of, any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person; or
(b) initiates a communication using any applications service, whether continuously, repeatedly or otherwise, during which communication may or may not ensue, with or without disclosing his identity and with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any person at any number or electronic address, commits an offence.
(2) A person who knowingly—
(a) by means of a network service or applications service provides any obscene communication for commercial purposes to any person; or
(b) permits a network service or applications service under the person’s control to be used for an activity described in paragraph (a), commits an offence.”
The fact that MCMC ordering Raja Petra removing the articles is an admission that the articles are false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person.
MCMC not only should order Raja Petra to remove the articles, but they should also charge him under the same section. A person who commits an offence under this section shall, on conviction, be liable to a fine not exceeding fifty thousand ringgit or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or to both and shall also be liable to a further fine of one thousand ringgit for every day during which the offence is continued after conviction.
On the other hand, not only action should be taken against Raja Petra, but the UMNO leaders including Nazri and Tajuddin Abdul Rahman who have relied on the misleading articles to attack Robert Kuok shall also apologize to him.
The words used by these 2 UMNO leaders against Kuok were uncouth and totally uncalled for. In fact even after Robert Kuok’s office issued a statement to deny all allegations that he was funding DAP to topple the ruling BN government, Nazri expressed no remorse for his actions. Nazri and Tajuddin must be held responsible for their gangster-like attitude.