SHAH ALAM, Feb 26 ― News portal The Malaysian Insider was blocked due to a news report quoting an anonymous source on a Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) advisory panel which contradicted official statements by the commission, Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said today.

The Communications and Multimedia Minister said that the ministry was not in charge of making the call, but was informed of it by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) of the portal's breach of Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

“One of their articles quoted a statement that could cause confusion because it contradicts with official statements by MACC.

“They don't mention who the source is. It could confuse the public,” he said after launching Karnival Karangkraf 2016 here today.

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“We have no problems with freedom of speech, opinions can be shared. But there are information that must be mentioned.

“In this case, the panel member was not named. We must be responsible. 

“There are many websites that criticise the government. It is not a problem,” Salleh said.

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Salleh Said added that the action to block TMI’s site was based on complaints and initial investigations, and that the MCMC will cooperate with the police for the full investigation.

Yesterday, members of an independent MACC panel rejected a TMI report quoting an unnamed source from the panel claiming there was enough evidence to prosecute Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

In the statement issued by Tan Sri Hamid Bugo, the chairman of the Operations Review Panel, and another member, they said the individual who made the claim was not authorised to do so and had misrepresented what the panel decided.

Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act deal with the improper use of network facilities or network services, that include content that is “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with intent to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass another person”.