Barely a week after being quoted as calling for malaysiakini to be banned over its April Fool's prank , Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca) adviser Prof Hamdan Adnan today said the authorities must have a greater sense of humour.

"The authorities should not be over-sensitive," he said when contacted. Hamdan, who is also a national human rights commissioner, added that not everything should be construed as a threat to national security.

The report, which caused a stir, stated that three ministers and a menteri besar would be charged for corruption. A linked report clearly clarified that the story was a hoax.

In an immediate reaction, Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail had told the media that he failed to see the humour and vowed action against malaysiakini . He was also quoted as saying that he would direct the police to investigate.

However, yesterday, Abdul Gani told malaysiakini that he was misquoted and had not directed the police to pursue the matter.

'I was misunderstood'

On the other hand, Hamdan was quoted by Utusan Malaysia the next day as calling for malaysiakini to be banned for the prank.

He too today claimed to have been 'misunderstood'. The Fomca adviser said he had not used the word 'ban' or specifically mention ' malaysiakini ' but had merely told the Malay daily that the government should act against any irresponsible party if there is enough justification to do so.

The Utusan Malaysia quote read: " Tindakan sebegini harus dibanteras dengan kerajaan menutup laman web sebegini sebagai amaran kepada pihak-pihak lain yang mencuba taktik tidak bertanggungjawab ini ."

(Such actions must be curbed with the government closing down such websites as a warning to other quarters who try to use irresponsible tactics)

Elaborating, Hamdan told malaysiakini today that the media should be allowed to have some freedom, particularly when the nation is developing.

Don't push your luck

Hamdan was also confident that the authorities would not take legal action against malaysiakini , as "it will reflect their insecurities if they do so."

"There has to be justifications if it ( malaysiakini ) is to be closed down," he stressed.

On the same note, he said malaysiakini , as a responsible news portal, "should not push its luck too far."

He expressed concern that the news organisation's credibility could be jeopardised by such pranks.