Latest news with #CommunicationsandMultimediaAct1998
Rakyat Post
10 hours ago
- Politics
- Rakyat Post
Malaysians Cry Foul Over MCMC Shutting Down ‘Edisi Siasat' Telegram Channel
Subscribe to our FREE Before we get into the issue, let us explain what Edisi Siasat is. It is a channel on the Telegram app that disseminates unconfirmed information related to alleged misconduct by authorities and civil servants. In essence, it's trying to be a whistleblower platform. Yesterday (19 June), social media blew up with news of Telegram users suddenly being unable to access the channel. According to screenshots shared by users on X (formerly Twitter), the entire chat within the channel disappeared and a message that read 'This channel can't be displayed because it violated local laws (Malaysia) was shown at the bottom. The Edisi Siasat Telegram channel had more than 1.17 million users before it was blocked. Edisi Siasat sudah Arwah… We're in the dark. — Pelabur Bijak 🇲🇾 🇵🇸 (@Pelabur_Bijak) So, what gives? Why did the whistleblower chat group suddenly go dark? The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had earlier filed a civil action against Edisi Siasat, and another related channel called Edisi Khas over Telegram's 'alleged failure to address content that has been repeatedly reported to them'. It said that both channels were identified as spreading content that violates provisions under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which has the potential to erode public trust in public institutions and disrupt social order. KENYATAAN MEDIA MCMC AMBIL TINDAKAN MAHKAMAH TERHADAP TELEGRAM DAN SALURAN YANG MENYEBARKAN KANDUNGAN MEMUDARATKAN DI TELEGRAM. — MCMC (@MCMC_RASMI) An Edisi Siasat 2.0 group popped up on Telegram but users later claimed it can't be found Just hours after the original Edisi Siasat channel was shut down, a new channel took its place on the Telegram app under the name Edisi Siasat 2.0 that quickly gained almost 40,000 members. However, according to recent comments on X, many users say they could not find the channel when trying to search for it. Aisey… what's the link yea. I search kat tele takde. — Jiljangjillu (@jiljangjillu) Checks by TRP found that there is indeed an Edisi Siasat 2.0 Telegram channel with 76,600 members at time of press. Malaysians react to the block and criticise MCMC Many took to social media to express their confusion and share criticism of MCMC's decision to shut down the Edisi Siasat channel. Some even questioned why the whistleblower group was quickly made inaccessible but the the same was not done with pedophile chat groups. I don't understand why they so scared of this ES. They only expose the wrong doings. Nothing else. Is the government protecting those criminals ? — KUMAR (@NAVIN_MARTIN40) READ MORE: Local actress Nabila Huda commented on the fact that MCMC blocked comments on its statement about the action taken against the two Telegram channels. 'MCMC closing the comments on Twitter is icing on the cake. Communication is your job but you don't want to communicate,' Nabila tweeted. MCMC tutup komen twitter is the icing on the cake 🤣🤣 kerja ko komunikasi kot tapi tanak komunikasi HAHAHAHAHHAHA APA SIAL — The Huda (@nabilahudatahar) MACC chief Azam Baki's history with Edisi Siasat Back in October 2021, Edisi Siasat posted It alleged that Azam purchased millions of shares in a company in 2015, questioning how a civil servant was able to afford them. On December 9, 2021, Edisi Siasat's recovery channel (its Twitter channel was shut down in November 2021) Edisi Khas posted a shareholding analysis of Gets Global Berhad (formerly known as KBES Berhad) that detailed the equity of its top 30 stakeholders as of March 31, 2016. This appeared to show Azam as the owner of over a million shares and his brother, Nasir, as that of 3.7 million more. It also posted further documents that appeared to name Azam as the owner of 2.1 million warrants in Excel Force MSC Berhad. Share your thoughts with us via TRP's . Get more stories like this to your inbox by signing up for our newsletter.
Focus Malaysia
11 hours ago
- Politics
- Focus Malaysia
Edisi Siasat blocked by court order: Lawyer insists Comms Minister spell out crimes of whistleblower site
IN George Orwell's satire, Animal Farm, one tyrannical regime is toppled by a popular revolt, only for it to be replaced by one that is infinitely worse. This was seemingly the point that lawyer and human rights activist Charles Hector was making with regard to whistleblowers. He was referring to the action taken against whistleblower sites – Edisi Siasat – whose Telegram channel has been blocked and can no longer be viewed by its 1.18 million followers. Editor's Note: Apart from Edisi Siasat, another well-known Telegram channel, Edisi Khas, is also facing similar wrath from the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) for allegedly spreading content that could harm public order and erode trust in national institutions. Hector very pointedly asked what laws did this site break? The anti-death penalty proponent demanded that Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and the MCMC to immediately inform Malaysians as to what is happening in detail. This is to avoid confusion. The legal eagle outlined several pertinent queries: 'What was the alleged crime committed by Edisi Siasat? What post? How was it harmful? Was it fake? Which law exactly did it violate?' he enquired, wondering if it fell afoul of the broadly worded Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 which many citizens have called to be repealed. Hector further drew comparisons of Edisi Siasat with that of the restrictions placed on Sarawak Report by Datuk Seri Najib's administration. The latter website had been instrumental in revealing damning details on the 1MDB scandal and drawing public attention to it. In 2015, the Sarawak Report was blocked in Malaysia with authorities having issued an arrest warrant for its editor/founder Clare Rewcastle Brown for 'threatening parliamentary democracy.' Pre-0emptive measure With a number of cases against officials from the previous administration on-going, perhaps there is a fear among Madani officials that they, too. would be subject to such scrutiny should Pakatan Harapan (PH) fall at the next elections. Hence, they are safeguarding themselves by taking the necessary pre-emptive measures, according to the outspoken lawyer. This includes the dubious blocking of sites and abuse of authority. 'Remember that public officers are responsible to Malaysians and not just the current PM and government,' he reminded civil servants of their duty. 'The fact that (past) PMs and ministers do commit crime and sometimes abuse their power is already clear. Even now, there are pending investigations and on-going trials against past government PMs, ministers, etc. 'After GE16 –if and when PMX Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's's Madani government is ousted – it is possible we will see cases being commenced against ministers of this current government.' – June 20, 2025
New Straits Times
11 hours ago
- Politics
- New Straits Times
My phone fell into the water, says man after charged with 11 counts of offensive posts about Nurul Izzah
SEPANG: A man claimed his phone had fallen into the water while fishing after he was charged with 11 counts of posting offensive comments about the prime minister's daughter, Nurul Izzah Anwar. Ruslan Mat Ali, 48, pleaded not guilty before Sessions Court judge Ahmad Fuad Othman yesterday for the offences allegedly committed between January and February this year using the Facebook account "Ruslan Mat Ali". He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, for using network services to transmit offensive content. The offence carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, a one-year jail term, or both upon conviction. For the first 10 charges, Ruslan, a father of three, was accused of posting offensive comments that were read at the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) Centre of Excellence in Cyberjaya on Feb 4 and Feb 26. The posts were allegedly made between Jan 2 and Feb 25. For the 11th charge, he allegedly posted an excessively offensive post on Feb 25. Ruslan pleaded not guilty before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman. "I dropped my phone while I was fishing. I don't know where the comments came from. They just kept coming in," he told the court. Deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab requested bail to be set at RM15,000 with one surety, saying that the cases should be jointly tried due to the involvement of the same witnesses and evidence. Ruslan, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower bail, saying he had no steady income, was divorced, and had three children to support. The court granted bail at RM10,000 with one surety and fixed July 18 for mention. All 11 charges will be tried together. It was understood that Ruslan was unable to post bail and will remain in custody until the next court date.
The Star
12 hours ago
- Politics
- The Star
Man claims trial to making obscene comments on social media about Nurul Izzah
SEPANG: A 48-year-old man has pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here to 11 charges of making indecent and excessively obscene comments targeting Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim. The accused, Ruslan Mat Ali, who works as a diver and is a single father, entered his plea after the charges were read before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman. He is accused of knowingly making and initiating the transmission of indecent and excessively obscene comments with the intent to annoy others on his Facebook from Jan 21 to Feb 25. He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, upon conviction. According to the first charge, the post was accessed on Feb 4 at approximately 7am at MCMC Tower 1, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. For the second to eleventh charges, the posts were accessed on Feb 26, between 1.51pm and 4.30pm, at the MCMC Centre of Excellence, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed that bail be set at RM15,000 with one surety. However, the accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower amount, citing the absence of a fixed income and the responsibility of supporting his three children. Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman set bail at RM10,000, with case mention fixed for July 18. The accused failed to post bail and has been remanded until the next mention date. – Bernama
Barnama
12 hours ago
- Politics
- Barnama
Diver Pleads Not Guilty To 11 Charges Over Obscene Posts On Nurul Izzah
CRIME & COURTS SEPANG, June 20 (Bernama) -- A diver and single father pleaded not guilty in the Sessions Court here today to 11 charges of making indecent and excessively obscene comments targeting Nurul Izzah Anwar, the daughter of the Prime Minister, on Facebook earlier this year. The accused, Ruslan Mat Ali, 48, entered the plea after the charges were read before Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman. He is accused of knowingly making and initiating the transmission of indecent and excessively obscene comments with the intent to annoy others, on the Facebook account under his name, Ruslan Mat Ali, allegedly committed between January 21 and February 25. He was charged under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which provides for a fine not exceeding RM50,000, or imprisonment for up to one year, or both, upon conviction. According to the first charge, the indecent post was accessed on February 4 at approximately 7.00 am at MCMC Tower 1, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. For the second to eleventh charges, the posts were accessed on February 26, between 1.51 pm and 4.30 pm, at the MCMC Centre of Excellence, Jalan Impact, Cyber 6, Cyberjaya. Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) deputy public prosecutor Fadhli Ab Wahab proposed that bail be set at RM15,000 with one surety. However, the accused, who was unrepresented, appealed for a lower amount, citing the absence of a fixed income and the responsibility of supporting his three children. Judge Ahmad Fuad Othman set bail at RM10,000, with case mention fixed for July 18.
