TMI website blocked because contents confusing to public - Salleh

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.

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"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.