FULL REPORT PETALING JAYA: An executive editor, who made a jibe against national power firm Tenaga Nasional Bhd in his blog, today pleaded not guilty to a charge under the Communications and Multimedia Act.
Irwan Abdul Rahman, who operates the blog "nose4news", was charged under Section 223 (1) (a) of the Act for using the Internet to send false comments with the intention of hurting the feelings of others.
If found guilty, Irwan, who is executive editor of The Malay Mail's lifestyle and entertainment section and uses the blog name Hassan Skodeng, could be fined up to RM50,000 or not more than a year in jail or both.
His posting on March 25, titled "TNB to sue WWF over Earth Hour", led the company to file a complaint with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) on April 2.
Judge Hayatul Akmal Abd Aziz set bail for RM4,000 under one surety and fixed Nov 24 for mention of the case.
Irwan is alleged to have commited the offence from 6pm to 7pm at 3A-01,02,03 in Dataran Dua, No 2 Jalan WC/1, Petaling Jaya.
Lawyer: It's just parody
Met later, his lawyer Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos was confident that the charge would be withdrawn taking into account that it was mere parody.
"The facts of the case points towards the style of writing. It should be taken as a whole. My client did not intend to make a serious stand on the matter but more with a sense of humour,” he said.
Describing the case as the first of its kind in the country, Jahaberdeen said the outcome would have an impact on a person's style of writing.
Irwan's bail was posted by Malay Mail's group adviser Ahiruddin Attan, better known as Rocky, among bloggers and media practitioneers.
Speaking to reporters, he said the country still had problems with freedom of press.
"Bloggers have been facing this problem over the last few years. We bloggers have matured in our writings or jottings but we are still being curtailed with the same problem...we don't have the freedom," said Ahiruddin, who runs the famous Rocky's Bru blog.
No comments:
Post a Comment