Malaysiakini 's April Fool's prank is being investigated by the Attorney-General's Chambers and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), Energy, Water and Communications Minister Dr Lim Keng Yaik said today.

"It was a bad joke although it was a joke. It has malicious intention," he told a press conference in Parliament today.

He said the MCMC - the regulator of the communications and multimedia industry - and AG's Chambers are looking at what laws malaysiakini could be charged under.

"It's a matter of looking at which procedure or what (kind of) law to use," he said.

Asked on the progress of the investigation, he said, "I am not the public prosecutor. Let the law takes its course. (There is) no hurry to charge people."

It is believed that certain provisions in the Communication and Multimedia Act (CMA) could be used against the website.

According to Section 233 of the Act, it is an offence to transmits "any comment, request, suggestion or other communication which is obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person."

Those found guilty are liable to a fine not exceeding RM50,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year, or both.

Debate on graft

Malaysiakini 's April Fool's prank published on April 1 'claimed' that three ministers and a state chief minister would be charged for corruption.

This had caused a flap among those in government with AG Abdul Gani Patail reportedly furious over the prank. He wanted action to be taken against the online daily.

Malaysiakini has defended its move stating that it was meant to stir a debate on the issue of corruption.

On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz told Parliament that the government would be taking action against malaysiakini for its April Fool's prank because it " tells lies ".