Umno Youth lodges report over doctored pic

PUTRAJAYA: Umno youth has lodged a report against Opposition leader Tian Chua over doctored photos involving the Deputy Prime Minister.

The moverment’s deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin lodged a report Tuesday with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), whose chairman Datuk Dr Halim Shafie had promised that there would be a "speedy investigation due to public interest".

Khairy, who met Shafie and three other senior officers for an hour, said the movement felt the need to complain as its members were "hurt, angry and disturbed" over the doctored photos that Tian Chua had posted on his website.

"Even in democracy, there should be a limit and we believe in this case, Tian Chua had gone overboard. He had abused the freedom that has been given on the use of Internet and the freedom of expression.

"What he did was irresponsible, has no basis and even he admitted that the photos were doctored. His actions have offended us in Umno youth and as Malaysians. I hope appropriate action will be taken against him.

"Investigations against Tian Chua will be a test case to our democracy," he told reporters after the meeting at the MCMC headquarters in Cyberjaya.

Tian Chua of Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) in his blog on July 2 had posted a doctored photograph of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, together with political analyst Abdul Razak Baginda and a look-alike of Altantuya Shaariibuu at the same table.

Abdul Razak is one of three people accused in the murder of Altantuya, a Mongolian translator. Khairy said Dr Halim had informed him that investigations on the case would be made under Section 211 and 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, adding the law was adequate to take action against those who abuse the use of Internet with lies and slander.

"In a country that practise matured democracy, we must play a proactive role by reporting incidents where lies, false information and slander are spread through the Internet. We must show good example to the younger generation that such acts are uncalled for and unaccepted," he added.

Meanwhile Dr Halim said the commission would have to investigate to ascertain whether the photograph of Altantuya was a genuine photo of her.

"This case is of public concern so we will speed up investigations. As to whether we will call Tian Chua over the matter, we will if it is required," he added