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Malaysia Uses Anti-Terrorism Laws To Stop Bloggers

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the like-a-glimpse-into-the-future dept.

Academiphiliac writes to mention the BBC reported in an article this morning that the Malaysian government may start using tough anti-terror laws to censor bloggers who insult either Islam or the country's king. "The move comes as one of Malaysia's leading online commentators has been questioned by police following a complaint by the main governing party. The new rules would allow a suspect to be detained indefinitely, without being charged or put on trial. But officials insist the law is not intended to strangle internet freedom."

7 of 381 comments (clear)

  1. Intent of the law by IndustrialComplex · · Score: 5, Interesting

    But officials insist the law is not intended to strangle internet freedom. No, of course it isn't intended to do that. That wasn't a bug, it was just an unintended feature.

    Lesson (which should have already been) learned: It doesn't matter what the law was intended to do, but rather what the law can be twisted to imply. If a law can be interpreted in a manner, it will be interpreted manner. That's the most important thing to understand from this article.
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  2. Re:Sharia Law? No thanks. by Grishnakh · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Actually, what I meant was changing all the leaders. You don't need to abolish the system of government to change the government itself. It happens here in America every 4 years, at least for the Executive Branch. Even with the same system in place (parliamentary in your case), all-new leaders can cancel old, bad laws and institute new, better laws (in theory anyway).

  3. Devolution of Information by DynaSoar · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Headline: "Malaysia Uses..."
    Article: "The Malaysian government may..."
    TF(BBC)A: "The Malaysian government has warned that it could..."

    When I had to listen to it on shortwave, BBC was a great alternative to the then already groupthink polluted US media. Now it's Fox News with British accents. Despite their Reynolds Wrap hard hats, some people think this happens on purpose, forced by some shadowy puppet governments or government puppets. This example shows how it happens due only to inattention to detail, and desire to make a point, even here on /.

    --
    "I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid." -- Bishop 341-B
  4. Re:Muslims could do with some insults to wake them by spazLizard · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Religions at their best work as social glue and when not under threat the business of civilization can proceed. Also since the Islamic empire of those days stretched far and wide, and trade thrived, such advances came about quite naturally. Currently with that empire broken up (often in terrible ways due to former European empires carving them up unnaturally), terrible inequality magnified by western interests in oil and ultimately threats (real or perceived) from non-Islamic forces radicalized religious figures gain support. Moderation thrives best when security exists. Why don't more most fundamentalist Christians blow up abortion clinics. Likely because they have a good life and when it comes down to it it's more important than God.

  5. Re:Sharia Law? No thanks. by CelticWhisper · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Or just cancel old, bad laws, new laws be damned. It's not like they HAVE to replace every shitty restriction imposed on the public with another, perhaps slightly less shitty, restriction.

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  6. Re:Oh, the irony by Zontar_Thing_From_Ve · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Considering that most terrorists are Muslim, somewhat ironic that anti-terrorism laws are being used to silence those who "insult Islam." How else is Islam going to be civilized and reformed from within if criticism and debate on the state of Islam in the modern world is crushed in a major Muslim nation, Malaysia, keeping in mind most of the world's Muslims live in Asia?

    Malaysia is 62% Malay, 24% Chinese, 8% Indian and the remaining 6% "something else". Malaysia has some strange laws that only apply to Malays. For example, by law all Malays are considered Muslim at birth. Malaysia issues identity cards that identify the religion of the holder. In theory, a person has the right to change their religion in Malaysia, but in reality it cannot be done if the holder is Malay and therefore a Muslim. Converts to Christianity have lost law suits over this. I am sure that this law is not directed at Malays but is actually a way to keep the 38% non-Malay population in line, very few of whom are Muslim.

  7. Re:so let me get this straight by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Check out this scary site:

    The Truth About Islam
    http://islamwatchers.blogspot.com/

    They're really like ORCS, aren't they?