Chapter 2: Raja Petra

Just as Nathaniel Tan is beginning to catch his breath, the fight to close the minds of the Malaysian people has shifted gears. A police report has been filed by Umno's Information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib on the "sensitive" writings of uber-Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin.

The report cites that Raja Petra has been writing stuff which insults Islam and the Agung. Reports Malaysiakini:

Taib told reporters later that the report was regarding remarks published on the website on July 11 and several other articles.

He claimed that the postings and articles were disrespectful to the King and Islam. According to him, they had the potential to create unrest in the country and strike fear in the people.

“The reports contain criminal elements which could incite anyone and cause fear. Maybe these people (bloggers) had forgotten that Malaysia is a country with many sensitivities,” he said.

i am puzzled and amazed.

i follow Malaysia Today closely; been reading their stuff for the past two years now. Raja Petra writes exclusively in English (although he also features guest columnists and articles in Bahasa Malaysia). Although it hasn't been established, there's a high chance the articles in question are in English.

Now, in 1998, this Muhammad Muhammad Taib fella told a Brisbane court that he doesn't understand English and on those grounds, he was acquitted on charges of false declaration.

What can i say? All hail Muhammad Muhammad Taib's English tuition teacher! All hail the ex-Selangor MB who can now not only understand English, but fully empathize with the written content. Next, he'll be crittin' Shakespeare.