The recent police harassments of bloggers and the investigation on a 'seditious' rap video suggest an on-going government crackdown of the Internet ahead of the upcoming polls.

Press freedom group Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has expressed "concerned that these incidents are part of a clampdown on expression critical of the ruling coalition" ahead of a general election expected this year or early 2008.

Yesterday, the police questioned the wife of the founder of a popular political news website under investigation for sedition.

Marina Lee Abdullah, wife of Malaysia Today founder and editor Raja Petra Kamarudin, was questioned to determine whether she was involved in a website posting last month "that insulted the Yang di Pertuan Agong (king) and Islam".

"This is to facilitate our investigation under the Sedition Act," said Mohd Zulkarnain Abdul Rahman, local police chief.

Marina, 51, was questioned for about an hour and a half and was escorted by her husband.

"The police wanted to know whether my wife was involved with the website," Raja Petra said.

Raja Petra was last month also questioned by police for eight hours shortly after his website carried allegedly questionable material, resulting in a complaint filed by a senior member of the ruling Umno.

Umno information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib alleged that postings on the blog insulted Islam and the king and contained elements that could cause racial tension.

One step further

"The intimidation and harassment of bloggers has been taken one step further" with Marina's questioning, said CIJ referring to the intimidation now being extended to family members of bloggers.

CIJ also raised concern over investigations on a Taiwan-based Malaysian student who created controversy for rapping to the tune of the national anthem with words portraying Malaysian authorities as corrupt.

The government's action "displays a disregard of democratic practices and fundamental liberties, including the freedom to dissent," the CIJ added.

CIJ said it was concerned that the government's action displayed a disregard of democratic practices and fundamental liberties, including the freedom to dissent.

"By further aggravating dissatisfaction among Malaysians, the government is risking alienating the support it seeks for the general election.

"We urge the government to take note of the risk and immediately stop action against citizens who voice dissenting views," it said.

The Sedition Act is a carryover from British colonial times, which broadly criminalises activities with "seditious tendencies," including those that express anti-government sentiments.

Umno supreme council member Norza Zakaria told malaysiakini that the government was worried that false allegations spread through the Internet could hurt the ruling Barisan Nasional in the coming general elections.