The High Court today ordered that Raja Petra Kamarudin, editor of the popular news portal Malaysia Today, be released from detention after ruling that his arrest for allegedly causing racial tensions was unlawful.

High Court Justice Syed Ahmad Helmy Syed Ahmad ruled that the Home Minister acted outside his powers in having Raja Petra arrested on Sept 12, said the blogger’s lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

He quoted the judge as saying the grounds given for Raja Petra’s detention were insufficient and that his arrest under the Internal Security Act was unlawful.

The ISA allows the government to detain anyone for an initial two-year period without charges, and to extend the detention indefinitely.
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Popularity: 6% [?]

Technorati Tags: court order, internal security act, isa, malaysia today, raja petra

A prominent political blogger was jailed for two years under a strict security law that can keep him in prison indefinitely, a lawyer said today.

Online commentator Raja Petra Kamarudin, known for his anti-government views, was already in police custody and was served a detention order last night, said his lawyer Malik Imtiaz Sarwar.

Another of his lawyers, J. Chandra, confirmed that Raja Petra has been sent to Kamunting under Section 8(1) of the ISA which states that “if the Minister is satisfied that the detention of any person is necessary with a view to Read the rest of this entry »

Popularity: 6% [?]

Technorati Tags: detain, internal security act, isa, kamunting, raja petra

Malaysia Today news portal editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, Seputeh MP Teresa Kok and Sin Chew Daily reporter Tan Hoon Cheng were arrested under the Internal Security Act (ISA) in Kuala Lumpur and in Penang.

DAP’s Seputeh MP Teresa Kok is also assemblyman for Kinrara and a senior executive councillor in charge of investment, industry and trade.

Kok, 43, is believed to have been picked up in connection with a residents petition in Puchong over a mosque.

Former mentri besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo had allegedly accused Kok of being involved.

She subsequently denied the allegation and demanded an apology from Dr Mohd Khir and the newspaper which reported it.
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Popularity: 4% [?]

Technorati Tags: internal security act, isa, raja petra, sin chew daily, tan hoon cheng, teresa kok

Reported as breaking news by MalaysiaKini as at 1.55pm, Raja Petra Kamaruddin has been detained under the Internal Security Act at 1.10pm today.

The arrest comes a day after the government lifted blocks on all websites, including Raja Petra’s popular Malaysia Today website.

Three newspapers were also issued show cause letters. They are Suara Keadilan, The Sun and Sin Chew Daily.

Yesterday Energy, Water and Communications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor has announced that government is no longer blocking the access to any websites or blogs in the country. He told reporters here that the decision was reached at the weekly cabinet meeting.
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Popularity: 5% [?]

Technorati Tags: arrest, internal security act, isa, islam, prophet muhammad, raja petra

Malaysia on Thursday defended blocking access to a prominent political website that has attacked top leaders, saying it had ignored warnings against publishing “slanderous” articles.

Malaysia’s media is tightly controlled by the government, and it has expressed frustration over its inability to rein in Internet news portals which have become popular alternative news sources.

The Star newspaper said the government-backed communications watchdog had ordered all 21 Internet providers in the country to block the Malaysia Today website, whose founder has already been charged with sedition.
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Popularity: 11% [?]

Technorati Tags: internet, malaysia today, raja petra, sedition act

A Malaysian high court has ordered a prominent political blogger to reveal his sources used in articles that alleged sodomy accusations against opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim were fabricated, a lawyer said Thursday.

Online commentator Raja Petra Raja Kamarudin had in three articles posted on his blog implied that lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah was behind the sodomy accusations by Anwar’s 23-year-old aide.

Muhammad Shafee told The Associated Press he obtained the court order Wednesday against Raja Petra, ordering him to reveal the sources of the three articles published this month, and the identities of those who commented on them.

The court also ordered him to remove the articles and all comments within two days and refrain from publishing similar allegations, Muhammad Shafee said.
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Popularity: 5% [?]

Technorati Tags: court order, malaysia today, muhammad shafee, raja petra, sodomy