Malaysia bans the cartoons online, promises crackdown

Action if Prophet's caricatures posted on the Internet - Shaziman

(Bernama) -- Action will be taken under the Multimedia and Communications Act against anyone found to have posted or distributed the offensive cartoons of [the alleged] Prophet Muhammad, Deputy Minister of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor warned Friday.

He said provisions in the Act were clear against anyone found to have posted or distributed materials containing pornographic elements, humiliating, degrading or damaging the reputation of any party [except Israel, Jews, and Zionists] was liable to a maximum fine of RM50,000 (US $ 13,157) or jailed for not less than a year, or both, upon conviction.

"If they're convicted and they're found to have repeated the offence, they will be fined RM1,000 (US $ 263) a day for posting or distributing through the Internet," he told reporters after the opening of an exhibition by Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan.

He said this when asked to comment on public concerns over posting and distributing of the controversial caricatures on the Internet which could be a subject of poking fun and ridicule by some people.

Stressing that the ministry was monitoring the matter, Shaziman said the people could co-operate by lodging complaints to the Multimedia and Communications Commission so that the ministry could detect the source which posted or distributed the caricatures.

Can I lodge a complaint with this commission about their own official government censorship and oppression of free expression? Hmmm, probably not a good idea.