Eleven cases have been taken to court under Section 211 and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 involving fines amounting to RM24,500 from last year until now.

Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said they consisted of six cases of posting comments insulting the Sultan of Perak (eight individuals); sending vulgar/obscene SMS (3); sending obscene e-mail (1) and sending obscene/vulgar comment (1).

rais yatim pc 070809 03 He said that in the case of insulting the Sultan of Perak, an individual had pleaded guilty and was fined RM10,000 while five cases (seven individuals) were waiting for trial.

For the obscene/vulgar SMS, vulgar e-mail and vulgar/obscene comment, all the individuals concerned pleaded guilty and the fines imposed ranged from RM1,800 to RM8,500, he told reporters today.

He said this after attending a briefing and a function to introduce the new chairperson of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Khalid Ramli who was appointed on Oct 16.

Meanwhile, Rais said the MCMC must undertake a study on the cost of acquiring information technology services in the country which was said to be costly compared to the cost in neighbouring and other developing countries.

100 Plus not a dengue cure

Meanwhile, in another development, Deputy Health Minister Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin said there was no scientific research to prove that the 100 Plus isotonic drink could cure dengue.

Nevertheless, she said, the ministry had initiated various campaigns and even provided a special hotline for the public to shed light on any query pertaining to the disease.

NONE She was replying to a supplementary question from Ibrahim Ali (Independent-Pasir Mas) during the question time at the Dewan Rakyat sitting today.

Meanwhile, in reply to Karpal Singh's (DAP-Bukit Gelugor) original question, Rosnah said there was a decrease in dengue cases in the country this year.

Between January and Oct 17, this year, she said 33,123 cases were reported, a decrease of 3,111 cases as compared to the corresponding period last year.

The deputy minister said the death toll from the disease this year, had also dipped to 72, from 80 recorded last year.

"The number of dengue cases in nine states had also dropped, except in Selangor, Penang, Sarawak, Perlis, Malacca and Sabah," she added.

- Bernama