Malaysian nabbed over e-mail hate campaign against popular singer

Malaysian nabbed over e-mail hate campaign against popular singer

Associated Press Kuala Lumpur

Weeks of controversy surrounding one of Southeast Asia's most popular female singers, Siti Nurhaliza, resulted in the arrest of a man accused of writing a slanderous e-mail about her that spread across Malaysia and stunned the entertainment industry.

Tens of thousands of people are believed to have recently received an e-mail, penned in the Malay language under a pseudonym, that is saturated with details allegedly showing how the 25-year-old Malaysian star has deceived her fans by nurturing a wholesome, girl-next-door image.

Police traced the e-mail to a college lecturer in his 30s, who was detained Sunday in Malaysia's northern Penang state and is likely to be charged with defamation and criminal intimidation, federal police spokesman Mohamad Daud said Wednesday.

The charges carry a combined maximum prison sentence of nine years on conviction.

Media reports have suggested the man was a fan of singers overshadowed by Siti's success.

The e-mail had touched off rampant speculation that another entertainer who was envious of Siti wrote it. Some singers who feared being perceived as the culprit made public denials.

The e-mail, whose author signs off as "Asmah and the Geng," portrayed Siti as an arrogant, sexually immoral prima donna "whose demands are worse than Brunei's princes."

Brunei is an absolute monarchy on Borneo island where the royal family's extravagance is legendary.

Siti is one of Malaysia's top-selling artists, winning numerous awards both at home and in regional competitions since she launched her career in 1996.

She is a household name in Malaysia, but also has significant followings in neighboring Indonesia, Singapore and Brunei.

GetAP 1.00 -- SEP 29, 2004 14:24:01