Blogger discharged-Malay Mail

Tuesday, March 15, 2011 13: 37: 00 PETALING JAYA: Satire and parody blogger ' Hassan skodeng ' walked free after his case was dismissed by the sessions Court here this morning.

The Malaysian communications and multimedia Commission (MCMC) said they were not planning to proceed with the case against the blogger, whose real name is Irwan Abdul Rahman, 36.

Deputy Attorney appearing for the MCMC, Badius Zaman Ahmad, informed the Court that they had decided on this after receiving orders from the Attorney General's Chambers.

Sessions Judge Hayatul Akmal Irwan counsel, Datuk Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, then asked for the return of the bail sum of RM4, 000.

The blogger, the Malay Mail executive editor for entertainment and lifestyle, was charged on 2 september last year under section 233 (a communications and multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities or service by, create, ask for and initiate transmission of content that is obscene, indecent, false, threatening or offensive in nature with malicious intent with a possible prison term of up to one year and fine to RM50, 000 or both upon conviction.

He was charged about a blog post, titled ' TNB to prosecute WWF about Earth Hour ', a few days before April's Fool day last year written.

The offence was allegedly committed on 25 March last year between 6 p and 7 pm on the Malay Mail in Dataran 3 Dua, Jalan 19/1, Petaling Jaya.

The blog, Irwan nose4news. wordpress.com, created a year and a half ago, is a portal dedicated to humorous satirical news pieces in the vein of popular United States Web site, the UI.

When met after the court proceedings, said Jahaberdeen that his team wrote a letter of representation to the AG rooms on 23 september last year to explain why this case should not go to trial.

"Various reasons were mentioned in the letter, including the parody and satire. The AG Chambers answered the letter of representation on 22 February this year. In their letter noted that they have reviewed and our letter of representation investigated and they have decided that the indictment would be discharged Irwan not amounting to an acquittal. "

Jahaberdeen said that he is happy with the decision. "This shows that Malaysians are awake on the taking of life less seriously and in a lighter way. Hopefully this will result not kill satirical talent in the country. "

Irwan, meanwhile, expressed relief the case is settled and and grateful to everyone who him, especially his lawyer, wife and all bloggers supported.

He also said a special thanks to Redberry Media Group editorial Adviser Datuk Ahirudin Attan as bailor for him.

"Decision of the Court confirmed that my faith in the sensitivity and sense of humor of all Malaysians. I hope to continue to write in my blog but I will be more careful. "

In contention In the article, written as a faux news piece, that irwan had described a fictional press conference organized by Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) President and CEO Datuk Sri Che Khalib Mohd Noh, who was quoted calling earth hour campaign "irresponsible" and the World Wide Fund for nature described as a "green terrorist" on the global energy-saving campaign.

Earth hour campaign is an annual global movement asks the audience to turn off all non-essential lighting and electrical equipment for an hour each year to make a stand for climate change.

The humor piece described even the TNB supremo as shouting "POWERRR EXTREME!" at the end of the fictional press conference, in reference to the battle cry by 1980s cartoon series The Centurions.

On April 17 last year, TNB had expressed dissatisfaction at the continuing publication of the of the blog.

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