guardian.co.uk,
Friday September 12 2008 17:53 BST
Article history
Malaysia's most prominent political blogger was arrested today at his home for posting anti-government comments on the Malaysia Today website. Raja Petra Kamarudin, the British-born founder and editor of the site, could be detained indefinitely without trial under an emergency law brought in after a series of attacks on senior political figures. "They came here and arrested him under the internal security act (ISA) for inciting hate in his articles on Islam," his wife, Marina Le Abdullah, told foreign press agencies. A statement on Malaysia Today said police "ransacked RPK's bedroom and took away some documents and CDs".
Hours later, police made a second arrest. Tan Hoon Cheng, a Chinese reporter, was detained under the ISA in connection with comments in the Sin Chew Daily, where he reported that a member of the ruling party had referred to ethnic Chinese as "squatters". The Malaysian home minister, Syed Hamid Albar, said authorities had been forced to act because Raja Petra had written numerous allegedly offensive pieces, including one that was claimed to ridicule Islam. "We have called and advised him many times about his statements, but he still continues writing in a way that could pose a threat," the minister told the national Bernama news agency. Two weeks ago, authorities blocked the Malaysia Today website, in a move that was met with outrage from journalists and bloggers worldwide. Raja Petra continued to publish online via an alternative link.
On September 6, he predicted his arrest, saying he had been told by friends that he would be detained under the ISA if he persisted. His arrest came a day after the Malaysia Today block was lifted. Articles calling for the release of Raja Petra and condemning the ISA have appeared on the site. Amnesty International urged the Malaysian government to revoke the ISA, under which more than 60 people are being held. "The Malaysian government is using this law as a repressive measure to control dissent," said Donna Guest, the organisation's deputy Asia-Pacific director. "It should be revoked immediately, and Raja Petra, along with those others currently being held in indefinite detention, should be either charged with an offence and brought to fair trial or released immediately."
One blogger called for peaceful demonstrations and "planned vigils" to be held on September 15 in a show of support. In May, Raja Petra was charged with sedition for allegedly implying that the deputy prime minister was involved in the killing of a Mongolian woman. His trial is due to begin in October.There is increasing political tension in Malaysia, with threats by the leader of the country's resurgent opposition, Anwar Ibrahim, to take power by September 16 - Malaysia's national day. In March, the ruling National Front party, led by Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, lost its two-thirds majority as opposition parties made big gains in parliamentary elections. Abdullah has been in power since 2003.
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umno-bn is really damn party!!! Arrest innocent guy that did not commit any wrongdoing instead he is stand for the true. Pakatan Rakyat, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim...Help him...Get into power as fast as you can... We Malaysian cannot wait anymore...