MALAYSIA: Stiff penalties for people using SMS to stir up unrest

Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi's warning follows arrest of five people suspected of text messaging rumors of racial riots

The Straits Times
Thursday, September 6, 2007

Malaysian Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi warned of stiff punishment for those who abused the Internet and short messaging service (SMS) to stoke racial hatred or unrest.

He said the Internal Security Act (ISA), which allows suspects to be detained without trial, could be used against such perpetrators, the New Straits Times reported yesterday.

He made his remarks following the arrest of five suspects under the ISA, allegedly for spreading rumours about unrest in Masai and Pasir Gudang in southern Johor.

The messages warned of riots in the two towns on Aug 31, the day the country celebrated its 50th anniversary of its independence.

"It is good that the police have acted against those alleged to have spread inflammatory text messages," Datuk Seri Abdullah said after attending an official function.

"Whatever technology you may use, if you abuse it, you will have to pay the price for your actions and for going against the law."

He added that such irresponsible acts will only instil fear and incite hatred among Malaysians.

Datuk Seri Abdullah also said stability was key to the country's development, Berita Harian newspaper reported.

"A country facing all kinds of problems will not be able to do much and will need billions of ringgit for reconstruction," he added.

That some Malaysians still fall for news about racial riots shows the deep racial division in the Malay-majority country which prides itself on its cultural diversity.

Of late, many divisive issues not openly discussed in the past, such as the government's affirmative action programme, have been hogging the headlines.

Several high profile court cases, especially concerning religious conversions, have further worsened the racial divide.

But Tun Musa Hitam, who is close to Datuk Seri Abdullah, said Malaysians should not be alarmed by such discussions.

The former deputy prime minister added that such discussions reflect the government's and the people's maturity, not a breakdown in inter-racial ties, the NST reported.

"It appears to give the impression that this country is facing a racial split. There are also indications that politics of fear like that before May 13, 1969, are starting to make their presence felt," he said, referring to the bloody racial riots over three decades ago.

"But in our determination to criticise and find fault, we should do so on the basis of the spirit of nationalism which means that we are all Malaysians and proud of it," said Tun Musa, a former head of the Malaysian Human Rights Commission.

Date Posted: 9/6/2007