Home Minister Syed Hamid Albar said controversial blogger Raja Petra Kamaruddin could be charged under the Internal Security Act for comments allegedly insulting Islam and Prophet Muhammad.

Raja Petra, who edits popular news portal Malaysia Today , is being investigated after several religious groups - Malaysian Islamic Development Department (Jakim), Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (Yadim), Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (Maiwp) and Federal Territory Religious Department (Jawi) - lodged police reports against him.

raja petra to police station on burma doctor sd 040908 03 "The probe and action should be expedited so that he will realise his mistakes and learn to respect Islam," said Syed Hamid, adding that Raja Petra would face action if the authorities found he had committed the offence.

The religious groups had complained that his comment in an article entitled "I promise to be a good, non-hypocritical Muslim", Raja Petra allegedly used sentences that insulted Muslims.

Raja Petra is also alleged to have allowed comments to appear on his website that degraded Islam and Prophet Muhammad in an article entitled "Not all Arabs are descendants of the Prophet".

"The action taken by the religious agencies is in line with the law because his (Raja Petra) actions to use obscene and bad words for Prophet Muhammad is clearly in contradiction of the law,” Syed Hamid said in a Bernama report.

Media council to be reviewed

Raja Petra has claimed he does not own the news website, but Syed Hamid said the former still had to be responsible for the contents published as he had always made himself appear as the sole representative for the portal.

On a related development, Syed Hamid said the establishment of a media council should be reviewed due to the "daringness" shown lately by bloggers, who dared to put themselves above the law.

Media practitioners had protested the establishment of the council.

"The establishment of the council is not meant for controlling the media, but more on managing them in case they violate the freedom given to them. I will try to discuss with media practitioners to get their feedback on the matter," Syed Hamid said.