PUTRAJAYA – Government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil has dismissed allegations that the RM250,000 compound issued to radio station Era FM’s operator for a controversial video mocking the Thaipusam kavadi ritual amounts to oppression of Islam.
Speaking after today’s Cabinet meeting, Fahmi criticized attempts to distort the issue, calling them “slander with malicious intent” and far from reality.
Earlier, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) clarified the difference in fines imposed on Maestra Broadcast Sdn Bhd, comedian Harith Iskander, and Facebook user Cecelia Yap. The RM250,000 fine on Maestra Broadcast was based on the newly amended Communications and Multimedia Act 1998, which took effect on Feb 11.
Meanwhile, Harith and Yap were fined RM10,000 each for offensive content related to Islam posted on Jan 18, before the amendments came into force.
MCMC stated that Maestra Broadcast’s fine was determined based on the public interest impact of the video, which stirred racial and religious tensions. The revised law now allows for a maximum penalty of RM500,000 or imprisonment of up to two years, or both.
Fahmi, who is also the communications minister, reiterated that the fine took into account the company’s high annual revenue, differentiating it from penalties imposed on individuals.