Malaysia Blocks Access to Anti-Government Website

Malaysia Blocks Access to Anti-Government Website

Malaysia has blocked access to a popular news website that often criticizes the government, inciting protests against cyberspace black out.
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, the government's industry regulator, ordered local Internet Service Providers to block access to Malaysia Today on Wednesday for posting comments that could arouse the country's multi-racial society.  Raja Petra Kamaruddin, the Malaysia Today's editor, is reported to have snubbed previous warnings resulting to the site's interdiction.

Home (Interior) Minister Syed Hamid said they do not intend to suppress people's freedom of expression, but everyone is accountable to the law including websites and blogs. The opposition highly admonishes the government's move and calls it an abuse of power. Critics also believe it is contrary to the government's pledge to keep cyberspace uncensored.