Malaysia Detains Blogger For Alleged
Sedition
KUALA LUMPUR: A Malaysian human rights group criticized the
government Thursday (18 Sept) for detaining a well-known political
blogger for alleged sedition after he posted a picture of the
country's flag upside down and urged other online writers to do the
same.
Syed Azidi Syed Aziz, who runs the popular "Kickdefella" blog,
was arrested Wednesday (17 Sept) at his home in northern Malaysia.
He sparked a controversy last month when he marked his country's
national day with an upside-down Malaysian flag as a form of
protest against the government.
Yap Swee Seng, director of local human rights group Suaram, said
Syed Azidi's detention was "unjustifiable" and aimed to curtail
dissent.
"It's part of the attempt by the government to control the
bloggers, to send warning signals to bloggers, to writers that they
can face action if their statements or their views are threatening
to the government," Yap said.
A police spokesman who declined to be identified citing protocol
declined to say when Syed Azidi would be charged. "It's still under
investigation," he said.
Sedition in Malaysia is punishable by up to three years in
prison.
Syed Azidi's arrest comes amid a climate of political
uncertainty as a resurgent opposition threatens to take over a
government weakened by dissent and dissatisfaction against Prime
Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi's leadership.
Another political blogger, a journalist and an opposition
politician were arrested last week under the Internal Security Act,
a law that allows for indefinite detention without trial. The
journalist was released a day later after widespread anger,
including by the law minister, who resigned in protest.
Last month, Abdullah said Syed Azidi should be investigated, and
called his protest "a malicious act." But Syed Azidi said he would
continue his campaign to highlight Malaysia's political and
economic problems.
The government has repeatedly accused bloggers of spreading
false information and lies to incite hatred. Unlike the mainstream
media, which is controlled by ruling political parties, bloggers
often write highly critical, anti-government commentaries.
Nathaniel Tan, a political blogger who has also been briefly
detained in the past, wrote that the arrest was "an attempt to
strike fear into the hearts of Malaysians who speak out. ... Enough
is enough." (By JULIA ZAPPEI/ AP)
http://www.mysinchew.com/node/16375?tid=14