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Email from Dr Helmy Haja Mydin

Although the man himself saw it coming, I was flabbergasted to read the news in today's Malaysiakini about the police report filed against Malaysia Today's Raja Petra, for the alleged crime of insulting Islam and the King.

The only insulting comments that I've come across were left by readers commenting on the site, not the editor-blogger himself. Is this another case of the powers that be being unaware of the mechanisms of a blog (ala Nat Tan's case) or are they just being indifferent to the fact in order to haul a thorn in their sides into court?

Articles in the website were by and large written in a logical, matter-of-fact manner. I fail to see how one man's opinion online is deemed an offence under Malaysian laws. Is the PDRM bent on policing the internet now, when there are so many unresolved criminal cases lying about? Are we taking China's route now; tearing apart the deals of the MSC so that the minds of the citizens are subjected to official viewpoints as it happens with government-controlled newspapers?

And if UMNO is so concerned about the lies that is being spread at the website, perhaps it would be more appropriate for them to bring up the various issues of corruption that has been highlighted by Raja Petra. I am sure Muhammad Muhammad Taib, who led the lodging of the report, would want to publicise the issue and clear his name as Raja Petra can't possibly have evidence to back up his rhetoric, can he? If the issues were brought to an open, impartial court and the man be given the opportunity to present his evidence (or lack thereof) then we would have justice. To deny justice, after all, is the ultimate insult to Islam.

At the end of the day, this just appears to me to be yet another attempt of shouting 'Bodoh' at individuals who bring up issues of national importance instead of addressing those issues. One can only sweep so much under the carpet before the bulge is noticeable. And one can only hold off the nausea for so long.

Dr Helmy Haja Mydin