The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has so far investigated 44 cases associated with news which was concocted, aimed at disuniting the people and of a seditious nature as well as incriminating Internet posts which ridiculed the Malay rulers.

rais yatim pc 020709 01 Information Communication and Culture Minister Rais Yatim said today the files of cases in which the probes had been completed would be submitted to the attorney-general soon.

"The Home Ministry also has a record of the cases," he told reporters at the Craft Complex here after a briefing on the 1Malaysia concept organised by his ministry for about 500 staff, including heads of department and senior officers.

Rais was asked to comment on the statement by Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday to the media to report truthfully without resorting to defamation, accusations and lies.

‘Extreme reporting’

The minister said media practitioners must assume responsibility for every report published and should not go to the extreme of reporting concocted news to the extent of ignoring existing laws.

"This is a reminder to the media not to go to the extreme to play up any issue to the extent of undermining enforcement of the country's laws.

"Those who resort to this will be prosecuted. We will not use the Internal Security Act but laws such as the Sedition Act," he said.

Also present at the event were the two deputy ministers of information communication and culture, Joseph Salang and Maglin Dennis D'Cruz, Bernama general manager Hasnul Hassan and Bernama editor-in-chief Yong Soo Hong.

- Bernama