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Malaysia blogger held for dissent | Malaysia blogger held for dissent |
(3 days later) | |
A prominent anti-government internet campaigner has been arrested in Malaysia, amid a crackdown on dissent. | A prominent anti-government internet campaigner has been arrested in Malaysia, amid a crackdown on dissent. |
Raja Petra Kamarudin was held under the majority Muslim country's controversial Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial. | Raja Petra Kamarudin was held under the majority Muslim country's controversial Internal Security Act, which allows indefinite detention without trial. |
He was accused of posting an article that insulted Islam. | He was accused of posting an article that insulted Islam. |
His arrest comes a day after the country's army chief warned people not to make remarks that could damage race relations. | His arrest comes a day after the country's army chief warned people not to make remarks that could damage race relations. |
General Abdul Aziz Zainal called for "stern action" to be taken against anyone stoking racial tension in the country. | General Abdul Aziz Zainal called for "stern action" to be taken against anyone stoking racial tension in the country. |
Raja Petra was detained by police at his home near Kuala Lumpur, two weeks after his anti-government website Malaysia Today was closed down. | Raja Petra was detained by police at his home near Kuala Lumpur, two weeks after his anti-government website Malaysia Today was closed down. |
Interior Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he had been arrested because his writings posed a threat to national security, local media reported. | Interior Minister Syed Hamid Albar said he had been arrested because his writings posed a threat to national security, local media reported. |
Power struggle | Power struggle |
Independent online news outlets and blogs flourish in Malaysia, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur, and Raja Petra had been a constant thorn in the government's side before his arrest. | Independent online news outlets and blogs flourish in Malaysia, says the BBC's Robin Brant in Kuala Lumpur, and Raja Petra had been a constant thorn in the government's side before his arrest. |
Earlier this year, he wrote a piece suggesting Najib Razak, Malaysia's deputy prime minister, may have been linked to the murder of a Mongolian model - a suggestion Mr Razak fiercely denied. | Earlier this year, he wrote a piece suggesting Najib Razak, Malaysia's deputy prime minister, may have been linked to the murder of a Mongolian model - a suggestion Mr Razak fiercely denied. |
The blogger went into hiding earlier this week, but told the BBC at the time that he did not fear detention. | The blogger went into hiding earlier this week, but told the BBC at the time that he did not fear detention. |
"I just want to make sure that for the next 10 days or so that i am going to be available to help in the dissemination of material that is going to be greatly required," he said. | "I just want to make sure that for the next 10 days or so that i am going to be available to help in the dissemination of material that is going to be greatly required," he said. |
The crackdown on dissent comes amid a race row that has threatened to engulf the government, our correspondent says. | The crackdown on dissent comes amid a race row that has threatened to engulf the government, our correspondent says. |
Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier suspended a member of the governing party who had described Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indians as "squatters". | Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi had earlier suspended a member of the governing party who had described Malaysia's ethnic Chinese and Indians as "squatters". |
Two newspapers have been put under investigation by the Interior Ministry for their reporting of the row. | Two newspapers have been put under investigation by the Interior Ministry for their reporting of the row. |
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