MCMC lodges police report against blogger for alleged defamatory remarks

PETALING JAYA: A police report has been lodged by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) against blogger Murray Hunter for accusing the commission and the police of being politically aligned to the current government.

MCMC denied Hunter's claims, saying that it was completely baseless.

"As a statutory body, MCMC carries out its duties and responsibilities in accordance with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission Act 1998 as well as the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, and all subsidiary laws contained in it.

"All enforcement actions taken by MCMC are in accordance with processes and procedures stipulated in MCMC's jurisdiction as a regulator of the country's communications and multimedia industry," said the commission in a statement on Monday (April 29).

MCMC said Hunter's writings were defamatory when he accused the commission of acting beyond its jurisdiction for self-interests.

"He also accused MCMC and the police of intimidating the public. Dissemination of untrue content with the intention of harassing another party is an offence under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"In addition, the act of uploading content that defames and insults the MCMC is also an offence.

The MCMC said should Hunter have any complaints, he should have come forward and lodged a report through the proper channels.