The Malaysian Insider website (TMI) was blocked yesterday after investigations found that it carried articles which could confuse the public.
Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the sources of some of these articles were not named, including the article on the Operational Assessment Panel which acted as an advisor to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
He said TMI's actions contravened Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 in which information from unverified sources contradicted the official statement from the MACC.
READ: MCMC confirms Malaysian Insider ban, warns others against publishing unverified reports
READ: TMI report on MACC panel confusing, chief editor will be questioned - Khalid
READ: MACC panel denies Malaysian Insider report
READ: Access to news portal The Malaysian Insider blocked for violating country's law
"When an article which is published is contradictory, and is from an unknown source, then its contents will surely confuse the public.
"That is not fair...so we took action and conducted an investigation into TMI," he told reporters here today.
Earlier, he launched the Karangkraf Carnival 2016 at the Karangkraf Complex here which will be held for three days until Sunday.
Yesterday, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) announced that the TMI portal had been blocked because its contents flouted Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
The Operational Assessment Panel has also issued an official statement which denied the TMI's report yesterday that it "had enough evidence to charge Najib in connection with the SRC."
Salleh added that the ministry was now working closely with the police to investigate the matter and said TMI's editor would also be called to make a statement.
Asked about what action could be taken against the TMI, he said there were many laws which could be applied in the issue, and the penalty would depend on the offence committed.
He said that the decision to block a portal or website was based on public complaints and not something that was taken lightly.
"If there is any basis, we will conduct initial investigations which will not side any party as there are certain procedures before a website is blocked," he said.
Salleh added that opinions which differed from that of the government's could be made through the proper channels.
He said the government was open to the opinions of the people and did not impose any controls.
"But be careful with every accusation made as it can confuse the public and lead to other things," he said.
Bernama
Fri Feb 26 2016
Salleh added that the ministry was now working closely with the police to investigate the matter and said TMI's editor would also be called to make a statement. - File photo
ICJ perintahkan Israel ambil tindakan tangani kebuluran di Gaza
Panel hakim di ICJ sebulat suara memerintahkan Israel untuk mengambil tindakan segera bagi menjamin penghantaran bekalan makanan asas kepada warga Palestin di Gaza.
Jangan ambil tindakan sendiri, Malaysia ada undang-undang
Ketua Polis Negara, Tan Sri Razarudin Husain memberi amaran dan peringatan keras kepada orang ramai untuk tidak mengambil tindakan sendiri berhubung apa jua insiden yang berlaku di negara ini.
34 penjawat awam ditahan, sebabkan ketirisan RM2 bilion
Suruhanjaya Pencegahan Rasuah Malaysia (SPRM) mendedahkan jumlah ketirisan akibat kegiatan sindiket penyeludupan babitkan beberapa anggota Jabatan Kastam Diraja Malaysia di Kargo Lapangan Terbang Antarabangsa Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Sepang mencecah 2 bilion ringgit bagi tempoh tiga tahun lepas.
[KOLUMNIS] Penyesuaian pesakit dengan stoma: 5 perkara yang perlu anda ketahui
STOMA merupakan bukaan usus di bahagian badan pesakit yang terhasil selepas pesakit menjalani pembedahan berkaitan usus.
Pasangan suami isteri, dua lelaki didakwa perdagang wanita Malaysia di Peru
Sepasang suami isteri dan dua lelaki yang dihadapkan ke Mahkamah Sesyen mengaku tidak bersalah atas pertuduhan memperdagang dua wanita Malaysia di Peru.
PM ucap selamat raikan Good Friday, Easter Sunday kepada penganut Kristian
Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim mengucapkan selamat menyambut hari Good Friday dan Easter Sunday kepada seluruh penganut Kristian.
Singapura rampas 1.5 tan produk segar dan makanan proses dari Malaysia
Kira-kira 1.5 tan produk segar dan makanan diproses yang diimport secara haram dari Malaysia dirampas Agensi Makanan Singapura (SFA).
AWANI Ringkas: Jumlah hari tol percuma kekal
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari di Astro AWANI menerusi AWANI Ringkas.
Kemarau: KADA anggar 40,000 tan metrik hasil padi terjejas
Kawasan tersebut sangat kering, mengakibatkan tanah merekah dan tanaman rosak teruk.
Pemuda Dong warisi perniagaan buah kabung
Proses mendapatkan buah yang turut dikenali sebagai buah nau dalam kalangan masyarakat utara itu rumit dan memerlukan kesabaran tinggi.