RPK’s internment is a lesson to all those who dare to instigate hatred and racial divides, detrimental to national peace and stability, public order and community cohesion. I applaud the authorities for taking the right decision, albeit a little late. And I hope it will be a lot longer than a mere 60 days!

RPK is a cog within the huge machinery of bigotry dissent and instability. He will be made an example of so that other cogs do not follow his vile and menacing methods of sowing discord and religious hatred.

MT is available for everyone to see. RPK was NOT interned because of his political or indeed racial views. It was his insults against Islam that has got him what he deserves. For too long people tried to reason with him (this can be seen from some comments) and reproached him for his lies, slander and deliberate twisting of words and historical facts. He preferred infamy and sensationalism over substance.

An Islamophobe who claims to be Muslim? Such is his moronic logic. He is fortunate to be in Malaysia, in other Muslim countries, he would have long had the noose around his neck!

He should have taken the sincere advice of many and stuck with subjects pertaining to the politics of the country rather than delving into Islam. He ignored it at his own risk and will now pay the price. We hope that he is not released after 60 days unless he has been truly rehabilitated and promises not to speak about matters he has no knowledge of re: Islam.

Repeat: PRK is not interned because of the political and racial content of his blog. It is his insults of Islam under the guise of freedom of expression accorded to him for many years. His irresponsibility and lack of self-regulation (unlike our dear Lim Kit) has finally caught up with him.

He was detained under Section 73 (1) of the ISA as he was deemed a threat to security, peace and public order.

Utusan Malaysia reported on Saturday that SKMM had banned MT not for political reasons or because it was very critical of politicians, but because the website had insulted Prophet Muhammad.

As most of RP’s supporters seem to be non-Muslim, you can be forgiven for over-looking this aspect. Those from amongst the so-called “progressive” or “moderate” Muslims riding the pro-RP band-wagon need to re-assess his blog in accordance with the referential integrity of their faith.

His arrest comes a day after the Cabinet ordered the Multimedia and Communications Commission (MCMC) to re­instate access to all blocked websites, including the controversial Malaysia Today.

Energy, Water and Com­mu­nications Minister Datuk Shaziman Abu Mansor said on Thursday the order was made because there were other “harsher” laws in the country, under which authorities could take action against the owners of blogs and websites, instead of blocking it.

“The Cabinet has asked the ministry to direct MCMC to reinstate access to any blocked website with immediate effect.

“At the same time, it is asking MCMC to closely cooperate with the police, the Attorney-General’s Office and the Home Minister to monitor any website or blog to ensure that this does not contain seditious, racist or religiously insensitive remarks.

“Instead of blocking access to offensive websites, the Cabinet wants authorities to investigate and act quickly against the owners of these sites,” he said in Putrajaya.

September 12, 2008 22:26 PM

KEMAMAN, Sept 12 (Bernama) – Blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin’s detention under the Internal Security Act (ISA) is appropriate as his articles, which allegedly ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad, could stoke anger among Muslims worldwide, Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said.

He said the government had to act as the blogger’s action had touched the sensitivities among Muslims and could undermine national security.

“I hope that Malaysians will look at this positively as the detention is not because the government is against freedom of expression, but rather, it’s because the freedom has been abused.

“The blogger has allowed statements which insulted Prophet Muhammad and this is a very sensitive thing to Muslims in the country and worldwide,” he told reporters after breaking fast at the Felda Neram Satu Mosque near here.

He was commenting on Raja Petra’s detention under the ISA for his article “I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim” which contained sentences that ridiculed Muslims besides allowing a commentary which ridiculed Islam and Prophet Muhammad with reference to the article “Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet” published in the “Malaysia Today” blog.

Commenting further, Ahmad Shabery said the government did not want Raja Petra’s action to go the extent of antagonising Muslims worldwide the way the publication of Prophet Muhammad carricature by a Danish daily or the production of the film “Fitna” by a Dutch politician did.

“I hope Muslims in the country support the government’s move which serve as a stern warning to whoever is abusing the freedom of expression by allowing people to write, express opinion or make statements that could hurt the feelings of members of a particular faith.

“The government does not want articles written by people in the country to cause anger among Muslims worldwide,” he said.

In a related development, he said the government’s move to free up access to websites or blogs was to allow freedom of expression.

However, if the sites had postings that could cause racial and religious tension, the government would have no choice but to take action against the bloggers to protect the interest of others, he said.

“In principle, they (the bloggers) are free to write of express opinion… it’s just that they should not abuse that freedom,” he said.- BERNAMA

sheriff singh Says:

>> Why doesn’t the PM give us the “concrete reason” then?

Investigations are ongoing and I’m sure in time, you will get your concrete reasons. It is not in the interest of Joe public to be given further info that could jeapodise a future trial.

>> If Raja Petra offended the Muslims, then let the Sharia Court handle the case. Charge him and try him there.

At the moment the pressing issue is to have him removed from public for the good of the public. Charges and subsequent trial will, I’m sure be brought after 60 days.

Tonight, the rakyat can sleep well knowing that a menace and a public order thread has been put behind bars.

* prelude3372 Says:

>> its clear that this zak fellow is here just to make someone uttter something that going to get this blog and u in particular in trouble.

Is this the level of confidence you have in your ability to debate and discuss!? If you are hot-headed and emotional, you better practise self-regulation, otherwise uncle Lim will do it for you here :^)

It’s clear that you comments are emotionally charged, otherwise you would be providing evidence to the contrary in relation to your admiration for a bigot like RPK. Indeed his internment WAS because of insults to Islam and not because of his political and racial stance. His blog has been operating for years without real problems; but he stepped too far when he decided to change the direction of his blog into a platform for Islamophobic discourse amongst other like-minded hate-mongers and xenophobes.

Night night.