PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) says it did not block a BBC online report on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s remarks on the price of kangkung.
The body insisted that it had not instructed Internet Service Providers to block access to the webpage following complaints by some netizens that they could not access the article.
“To my knowledge, no blocking,” corporate communications chief Sheikh Raffie Abdul Rahman said in a text message.
During a check by The Star at 10am, the particular page did not load due to a timeout, but the page was accessible by 12.30pm.
Netizens had taken to social media to complain that they were unable to access the article titled “#BBCtrending: Be careful what you say about spinach”, since the night of Jan 15.
Telekom Malaysia stated that it was investigating the matter and in a statement in an online portal, added that issues of national content blocking should be directed to the MCMC.
Najib had said that the price of kangkung had gone down but went unnoticed in the midst of general price increases, and this set off a social media frenzy.
Netizens have lampooned him over the matter.
However, others have defended the PM by saying that he merely pinpointed uncontrollable factors affecting food prices and supply.
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