Thursday, October 21, 2010

MCMC looks into NGO chief’s claims

CYBERJAYA: Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officers questioned the head of a Malay rights non-governmental organisation here over an allegation that a certain news portal had ties with militant Indonesian group Bendera.

Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah arrived at the MCMC headquarters here at about 9.50am and was led to a discussion room, where two officers questioned him.

Speaking to reporters, about 90 minutes later, he said he was called to explain his allegation that a senior executive of the Malaysian Insider news portal had close ties with Bendera, which had organised several anti-Malaysia demonstrations in Jakarta.

“I handed over a 30-page document that contained evidence, articles and other materials, showing that the portal had close ties with three Bendera leaders.

“The officers asked me questions to clarify the documents and told me they will study the evidence closely before taking action.”

Saying he was happy that the commission was looking into the matter, he added that his group would leave it to the commission to make its recommendations to the police.

Azwanddin had lodged a police report last month calling for investigations into the alleged relationship between the news portal’s senior executive and Bendera leaders and for the police to find out if there was any hidden agenda in the alleged link.

JMM also held a demonstration in Kuala Lumpur on Oct 15, calling for the authorities and the Home Ministry to take action against the portal.

Early last month, Malaysian Insider chief executive officer Jahabar Sadiq lodged a police report against Bayan Baru MP Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim who made similar allegations against him.

Jahabar, who is also editor of the news portal, based his police report on an Utusan Malaysia article that stated Zahrain had dared him to come clean on the alleged link and ensure there was no elements of betrayal or treason to the country.

Jahabar claimed that he had worked as a senior producer for Reuters Television in Jakarta in 2008 and last year and, in the course of his work, had met many Indonesians including those from Bendera.
-source The Star

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