Efforts to extradite Alvin Tan ongoing - Jailani

Efforts to extradite controversial blogger Alvin Tan, who is believed to be in the United States, are ongoing, the Dewan Negara was told yesterday.

Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Jailani Johari said the ministry, together with the Home Ministry were actively working on ways to bring Tan to justice.

"We have had discussions on extradition proceedings against the offender (Alvin). We have never stopped working on this issue," he said in reply to a supplementary question from Senator Mohd Suhaimi Abdullah on what action was being taken against bloggers who insulted Islam.

Jailani said the case of the blogger and his former partner, Vivian Lee, which was being tried in court on charges of insulting Islam in the month of Ramadan in July last year, would continue without Tan's presence.

"The case will continue as his partner (Lee) is available, and the case will continue on Jan 4 next year," he said.

Tan and Lee were alleged to have uploaded a seditious posting on 'Alvin and Vivian-Alvivi' Facebook page at

https://www.facebook.com/alvivi.swingers. However, Tan failed to appear in court for mention of the case and he later uploaded his Facebook status, saying he was in California, United States.

Meanwhile, Jailani said a total of 1,253 pornographic (porn) websites were blocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) in stages, from 2011 until last month.

"According to a study, about 12 to 15 per cent of internet content are filled with pornographic materials and according to statistics, 260 new porn sites are produced every day.

"However, MCMC with the assistance of various agencies will continue to block these websites including sites leaning towards violence, incitements and touching on racial and religious sensitivities," he added.

Jailani said MCMC faced various constraints in its investigations into social media offences as it was difficult to identify suspects, with most of them using fake accounts and providing false telephone numbers.

He added that since January, a total of RM2.29 million in compounds were issued to telecommunication companies for issues related to registration of prepaid mobile phone users.

"This shows an increase of 89 per cent, as compared to last year," he said.

"In addition, investigations get more challenging as contents or communications on the internet can be moved, deleted or amended easily at any time.

"Anonymous postings on the internet and incomplete records of users hamper our efforts in tracking down offenders."