Opposition party PKR today described the government's action against bloggers as being 'politically motivated' in view of the upcoming general elections.

Its vice-president R Sivarasa said the police report against political website Malaysia Today and its webmaster Raja Petra Kamarudin was an attempt to "control dissent."

On Monday, Umno information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib filed a police report against the website for publishing articles that allegedly insulted the King and Islam.

Raja Petra, who had since denied this, was grilled by the police for eight hours yesterday. Malaysia Today had published numerous articles, which were not only critical of the current leadership, but also contained allegations of corruption and abuse of power.

The police report came hot on the heels of the arrest of PKR webmaster and blogger Nathaniel Tan over postings which allegedly contravened the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

Tan was released on July 17 after his four-day remand period expired.

"We consider these actions a violation of freedom of expression," Sivarasa told a press conference at the party headquarters in Kuala Lumpur.

Also present were PKR information chief Tian Chua, PKR Wanita deputy chief Haniza Talha and PKR Youth information chief Lau Tek Hai.

Stop the war

Commenting on the police report against Malaysia Today , Chua claimed that the real problem was not with the postings, "but that the website is a channel for exposing corruption and allegations regarding government officials."

Sivarasa ( right ) added that if Umno leaders felt defamed by the allegations made in the blog, they had the recourse to reply to the allegations or sue Raja Petra in a court of law.

"PKR is not saying there must be absolute freedom of expression, in the Internet or elsewhere." he clarified. "But mocking, satirical and even rude remarks must be tolerated if freedom of expression is to exist."

The opposition party also urged the government to stop the war against bloggers , started by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Mohd Nazri Aziz in the Dewan Negara on Tuesday.

"The government cannot assume that all bloggers are anti-government," said Chua. "Malaysia looks very barbaric because we are fighting against a tool of information. The Internet is technology, not a political position."

Meanwhile, PKR de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim urged the police to spend their time investigating the corruption allegations made by Malaysia Today and lowering the crime rate.

"There have been so many police reports made concerning allegations about the government," he said but none of them (had investigations) carried out. However, a simple report about a webmaster gets their immediate attention," he said in a statement.

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