The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Communication (MCMC) will charge a blogger for the first time, over a humorous account of a fictional press conference ‘called’ by Tenaga Nasional Bhd (TNB).

NONE The blogger who calls himself ‘Hassan Skodeng’ will be charged tomorrow at the Petaling Jaya Sessions Court with ‘creating and spreading lies with malicious intent’, said an MCMC official when contacted.

The charge is under Section 233(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA).

The blogger wrote in his satire-based blog 'Nose4News' today that he is to be charged over the article entitled ‘TNB to sue WWF over Earth Hour’, which he posted on March 27.

“I’ve got a bunch of very good and intelligent people by my side (yes, including a very nice lawyer), so I’m hoping for the best. I'm hoping for cool heads and developed sense of humour to prevail,” he said.

Complaint made in April

In the posting, the writer fictitiously claimed that TNB president and chief executive officer Che Khalib Mohd Noh had called a press conference to announce that he was contemplating legal action against the World Wildlife Foundation for organising the ‘Earth Hour’ campaign.

Che Khalib ‘said’ he was against the idea of Earth Hour and pledged not to ‘go dark’.

An unamused TNB then lodged a co rais yatim pc 070809 01 mplaint with the MCMC in April.

Responded 'Hassan', who detailed the investigative process on April 13: "This fake blog was created as a stress relief. I like writing jokes, and I enjoy making people laugh and destress. God knows the world is serious enough." 

He has since deleted the post.

Last October, Information, Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said that 11 cases have been taken to court under Section 211 and Section 233 of the CMA, involving fines amounting to RM24,500 from 2008.

They consisted of six cases of posting comments insulting the Perak sultan (eight individuals); sending vulgar/obscene SMS (three); sending obscene e-mail (one) and sending obscene/vulgar comment (one).

Rais had previously reminded the blogging community that it should self-regulate to avoid being exposed to law suits and government action.

Several bloggers have been investigated to date.