Home Ministry has no power to block blogs, portals - Wan Junaidi

The Home Ministry does not have the power to block the access to blogs and websites, said deputy Home Minister Datuk Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

He explained that only the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has the power to block blogs and portals.

The MCMC is an agency under the Communication and Multimedia Ministry.

Wan Junaidi said it is important for the rakyat to know the different scope and power of the ministries.

“Blog does not come under us, that is under another ministry. The Home Ministry however can order to suspend or close down newspapers,” he said when commenting on why his ministry did not suspend certain blogs like the two publications.

Yesterday, Wan Junaidi said the publishing permit for The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily were suspended after its reports were found to contain 'certain motives'.

He said the government had never prevented any publication in disseminating information to the general public but it had no choice if the publication is seen to have certain motives in spreading the news.

The Home Ministry suspended the publishing permit of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months beginning July 27.

The ministry also warned The Edge that failure to stop publication for three months will result in the withdrawal of the publishing permits, the KDN letter said.