KL Internet newspaper evicted from office<\/p>\n
Pauline Jasudason, Associated Press, Kuala Lumpur<\/p>\n
An Internet newspaper has been ordered to leave its offices after
\nit ran afoul of Malaysia's governing party for publishing a
\nletter critical of government policies.<\/p>\n
A notice served on Friday by landlord PC Suria, a computer
\ncompany, accused Malaysiakini.com of being \"involved in
\nactivities which contravene the laws of the country.\"<\/p>\n
The order came four days after police raided Malaysiakini's
\noffices and seized computers following a complaint lodged by the
\nyouth wing of the ruling United Malays National Organization
\n(UMNO) accusing the publication of sedition.<\/p>\n
The complaint said Malaysiakini published a letter that
\nlikened Malaysia's affirmative action laws, which benefit the
\ntraditionally poor Malay Muslim ethnic majority, to the U.S.
\nwhite supremacist group Ku Klux Klan. The letter could trigger
\nracial tensions, the complaint said.<\/p>\n
The affirmative action laws have been in force for more than
\n30 years, following bloody riots in 1969 between Malay Muslim and
\nthe country's ethnic Chinese minority. The laws give Malays
\npreference in education, loans, and government jobs and
\ncontracts.<\/p>\n
Malaysiakini has won international awards for its coverage in
\na country where traditional media are kept in check by tough
\nlicensing and defamation laws.<\/p>\n
PC Suria, owned by government-backed enterprise Nascom, gave
\nMalaysiakini until next month to leave its leased office. PC
\nSuria officials were not immediately available for comment.<\/p>\n
Malaysiakini editor Steven Gan said the eviction was \"another
\nattempt by the authorities to shut Malaysiakini down. We've been
\ntrying to negotiate with PC Suria, but they are not willing to
\nlisten.\"<\/p>\n
Malaysiakini will challenge the eviction in court, Gan told
\nThe Associated Press. He vowed to keep the publication going, but
\nsaid \"harassment from authorities\" would hinder finding a new
\naddress.<\/p>\n
Gan said the police raid and eviction would greatly damage
\nMalaysia's efforts to establish itself as an Internet technology
\nhub - a policy which has generally allowed Web sites to be more
\ndaring than traditional media.<\/p>\n
\"They are really shooting themselves in the foot,\" Gan said.
\n\"Investors will feel that authorities will not respect the
\nconfidentiality of the information contained in servers.\"<\/p>\n
Opposition leaders and human rights groups have said the raid
\nof Malaysiakini's offices appeared to be politically motivated.
\nNineteen computers and four servers were seized, causing a
\ntemporary suspension of operations. Several computers have since
\nbeen returned.<\/p>\n
Police have quizzed Gan and four senior staffers under
\nsedition laws, which can be punished by a fine and up to three
\nyears in jail. Gan has refused to divulge the identity of the
\nletter writer, citing professional ethics. He denies the letter
\nwas seditious.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/kl-internet-newspaper-evicted-from-office-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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