Malaysia Threatens
Detention-Without-Trial
For Bloggers

The Nation

Malaysia has warned web bloggers not to write on "sensitive issues" relating to religion or politics, threatening to arrest wrongdoers using a security law that allows detention without trial, official reports said Wednesday.

Minister in the Prime Minister's department, Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz, said the government would not hesitate to use the draconian Internal Security Act, as well as the Sedition Act, against irresponsible bloggers. Both laws allow for indefinite detention.

"I want to issue a warning that the time has come for us to take action against them (bloggers).

"We have the right and we will do it. We have been very patient," Mohamad Nazri was quoted as saying by the official Bernama agency.

Mohamad Nazri's comments, which came in parliament late Tuesday, were in response to several articles on a local blog which the government claims contained disparaging comments against the king as well as Islam, the country's official religion.

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