TMI block due to contradictory and false reports

SHAH ALAM: Access to news portal The Malaysian Insider (TMI) was blocked because of an article quoting unnamed sources which contradicted an official statement from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), said Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.
Salleh was referring to the article "Enough proof to charge Najib over SRC, says MACC oversight committee" which quoted an anonymous source from the MACC advisory panel.
"The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) have taken the step to block TMI because they found that the article in question was against Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
"The article quoted unnamed sources that were in direct contradiction with MACC's (advisory panel) official statement. It confuses the people," he said after the launch of the Karangkraf Carnival here today.
He added that the MCMC in cooperation with the police are conducting a full investigation so that further action can be taken against the portal.
Salleh said the government was not against freedom of speech, but news organisations must be responsible when it comes to published content.
"The government has a lot of critics that have a differing view. We don't control their opinions but they should be careful and responsible with their reports," he said.
He also added that the MCMC operates independently from the ministry as they have their own decision making panel.
"They only inform the ministry of their decision. My ministry does not make these decisions," he said.
Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 deals with the improper use of network services or network facilities which include content that is "obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person".