14 August 2008

Alert

Blogger ordered to remove articles from website, reveal sources


Incident details

Raja Petra Kamarudin

other
(SEAPA/IFEX) - A Malaysian High Court has given popular blogger and website editor Raja Petra Kamarudin until 15 August 2008 to reveal the sources for three articles in his blog, "Malaysia Today". The court has deemed the articles to be defamatory to a prominent lawyer.

The court also ordered Kamarudin to reveal the identities of visitors to his blog who left comments about the articles. Malaysian media reports said he was also ordered to remove the articles from his blog.

Lawyer Datuk Muhammad Shafee Abdullah filed defamation charges against the blogger over articles he posted to his website on 6, 7 and 11 August. The articles linked the lawyer to the ruling Malaysian political party UMNO, and accused him of being behind the recent sodomy charge filed against opposition party Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) adviser Datu Serik Anwar Ibrahim.

According to "The Star," Justice Tee Ah Sing's order, granted in chambers, included directing Kamarudin to remove the offending articles, as well as any follow-up stories and related comments by visitors. The blogger and his agents were also ordered to refrain from publishing the articles or any other defamatory material against Shafee on any other website.

Shafee told "The Star" that Raja Petra Kamarudin had "continuously and maliciously (been) on a rampage to defame him."

"I have not seen anything more defamatory than what this man has written. None of what he said is true," he added.



Source:

Southeast Asian Press Alliance
Unit 3B, Thakolsuk Place
No. 115 Terddumri Road
Dusit, Bangkok 10300
Thailand
seapa (@) seapa.org
Phone: +66 2 243 5579
Fax: +66 2 244 8749
 

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Updates to this story

WiPC protests detention of website editor 29 September 2008 Blogger given two-year jail term 23 September 2008 Blocking of news website apparently aimed at suppressing coverage of opposition politician's electoral victory 3 September 2008 Authorities ban political blog 2 September 2008

Malaysia

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