KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has legal grounds for lodging a police report against Australian blogger Murray Hunter, said Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
This comes after rights group Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) accused MCMC of acting excessively.
“MCMC will have their perspective on the matter (and) I think they have weighed (the legality of) their action,” Fahmi said when met by reporters at Wisma Bernama, here, today.
“I don’t think they (MCMC) are being ‘too much’ (as) they have legal grounds for the action they’re pursuing.
“LFL can comment and criticise, they’re free to do so,” added the minister, who is also the unity government spokesman.
He also reiterated that while individuals are granted freedom of speech and space to air their criticism, this does not allow the issuing of slanderous statements or those touching on race, religion and royalty 3R sentiments.
Yesterday, MCMC said it had lodged a police report against Murray while refuting the allegations made by the blogger.
“Hunter’s writings accusing MCMC to have acted beyond its jurisdiction for self-interest, and the police for intimidating the community, is seen as slanderous,” the commission said in a statement.
It added that as a statutory body, it is carrying out its duties and responsibilities according to the MCMC Act 1998 and the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Police already have three investigation papers against Hunter relating to some of his articles that touched on 3R sensitivities.
Last month, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said Bukit Aman 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 previously taught, released a statement distancing itself from him.
It also clarified that his employment at the university was terminated in 2015. – April 30, 2024