Internet users harassed, journalists mistreated

Government promises, in particular from the new Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, of more media freedom in Malaysia have not materialized. The last year has seen a decrease in freedom on the Internet, increasing concentration of media ownership and rampant commercialism.

Newspapers and television stations have shown more courage in exposing some issues. In the last few weeks, for example, there has been sustained coverage of mismanagement of protected forest reserves in the state of Selangor. Unfortunately, this has existed alongside a noticeable reticence to continue coverage of issues if the Government asks for silence. Examples of this include coverage of the harassment of 'bloggers', which completely ceased after the Minister in charge of investigations asked the Press not to highlight the issue.

Harassment on the Internet
The Internet provides the only space which remains largely free of Government regulation. Under the previous Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, assurances were given that the Internet would be uncensored. This was encoded in law under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, covering both the Internet and broadcast media.

The past year, however, has seen an increase in the number of attacks made on Internet users. Three bloggers were threatened with prosecution under the Sedition Act 1948 (Amended 1971), which allows for a fine of up to RM5,000 and up to three years in prison for a first offence. All three were based upon comments about religion.

A fourth blogger was questioned by police at his house. Although he claimed that this was not harassment, the interview lasted three hours.

Influential blogger Jeff Ooi was not only threatened with the Sedition Act but also with detention without trial under the Internal Security Act. He was later questioned by police under a defunct section of the Penal Code for the same post.

Lastly, award-winning news site Malaysiakini.com is under investigation for an April Fool's prank. The site ran a story claiming that a Cabinet Minister and others had been arrested for corruption, simultaneously running an explanation that this was a joke.

University students harassed
Two students from the Penang-based Universiti Sains Malaysia were harassed by university authorities. One was questioned twice by authorities in connection with articles he had written and for posts on his personal website. The other was warned not to speak to reporters following a hearing, after she had been accused of taking part in the 2004 General Election campaign. University students are not allowed to talk to the media, to join political parties or political societies without prior permission from the university authorities, under the Universities and University Colleges Act.

Attack on 'whistle-blower'
Human rights defender and whistle-blower on police brutality P Uthayakumar was attacked on 11 May 2004. The attack came after he had received death threats urging him to stop calling for an investigation into deaths in police custody. Police have not arrested any suspects in this case.

Abduction and arrest of Burmese journalists
Burmese journalist Ko Minn Kyaw was abducted on his way to a press conference with the Burmese Prime Minister. He was held for 12 hours, denied food and water and beaten. His captors claimed to have been from the Malaysian police. As yet, no arrests have been made.

Burmese editor Sein Mar was arrested by police following a demonstration outside the Burmese embassy in Kuala Lumpur. She was held for over a month without being charged.

TV journalist questioned by police
In March 2005, police questioned a television journalist over a report on logging. They claimed that the questioning was routine procedure.