“Masih disekat (it is still blocked)”, Sheikh Raffie said in a SMS on Monday to a query from The Star Online.
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Bung Moktar may be referring to Singapore’s Internet Service and Content Provider Class Licence, which is a requirement for groups and individuals who provide “any programme for the propagation, promotion or discussion of political or religious issues relating to Singapore” on the Internet, among other stipulations.
In a statement, Sarawak Report said the MCMC blockage was an open attack on it, adding that it was wrong for Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to block its website simply because he was unable to answer the questions from the media.
The move is provided for under Section 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, said MCMC.
The MCMC said it decided to block access to the site pending investigations by a Special Task Force into allegations of the misappropriation of 1MDB-linked funds into the Prime Minister’s personal bank accounts. The Independent has previously highlighted how a media production company made programs for the BBC and CNBC portraying Malaysia in a positive light which was also acting as a public relations advisor for the Malaysian government. “Such contents could cause affect the peace and cause national instability, disrupt public order and affect economic stability”, said MCMC.
The website has been a main source of allegations of wrongdoing regarding 1MDB, and has published several stories on the government investment firm.
Visitors to the website are greeted by a placeholder informing them that the page can not be found, in a style similar to that normally used for sites that have been blocked by local Internet regulators.
The website owners vowed to continue in their investigation.
“In any case, blocking access to the Sarawak Report would not achieve much success given Malaysians’ ingenuity in finding loopholes such as using proxy servers.
Sarawak Report will not be impeded in any way by this action in bringing out future information as and when its investigations deliver further evidence“.
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Taib was accused and investigated for taking control of a state owned company though which his family have obtained a series of lucrative monopolies.
