KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has lodged a police report against Australian blogger Murray Hunter for posts that are allegedly slanderous against the unity government.
MCMC said its police report was based on Hunter’s particular claim that the commission and the police are “politically based institutions”.
“We (MCMC) strongly denied this baseless accusation by this blogger. As a statutory body, we carry out our duties and responsibilities in accordance with the MCMC Act 1998 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998,” the internet and multimedia regulator said in a statement.
Hunter should have directed his complaints against MCMC or the authorities via official channels, it added.
“Hunter’s writings, in accusing MCMC to have acted beyond its jurisdiction for self-interest, and the police for intimidating the community, is seen as slanderous.
“Spreading fake claims with the intention to harass another party is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. So does uploading content that slanders and insults MCMC.”
Police already have three investigation papers against Hunter over some of his articles which touched on religion, race and the Malay rulers (3R).
They stem from previous police reports lodged against the Australian over his articles linking the demolition of the Shah Alam Stadium and its redevelopment to the Selangor palace.
Last month, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Bukit Aman has sought the help of Interpol to trace the whereabouts of the former university lecturer who is said to be residing in Hat Yai, Thailand.
In January, Universiti Malaysia Perlis, where Hunter taught previously, released a press statement to distance itself from him, confirming that he was no longer a lecturer there.
It also clarified that his employment at the university was terminated in 2015. – April 29, 2024