Malaysian leaders in fresh warnings to bloggers

KUALA LUMPUR (AFP) - Malaysian officials stepped up their warnings against bloggers, reports said Sunday, as a key ruling party member described cyberspace as having "the law of the jungle".

Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, quoted by The Star's online edition, said bloggers were as liable for defamation as publishers of printed materials.

"It is wrong for bloggers to go overboard, especially if they post slanderous articles against the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (the country's king) and Islam on the website," he was quoted as telling reporters.

"This is not something one can take lightly," Abdullah added.

His comments were the latest official warning to bloggers since a senior politician from the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) lodged a police report last Monday against a political website, Malaysia Today.

UMNO information chief Muhammad Muhammad Taib alleged that postings on the blog insulted Islam and the king and contained elements that could cause racial tension.

The influential UMNO Youth deputy chief Khairy Jamaluddin was quoted Sunday as saying bloggers must realize they are not above the law.

Khairy said blogs had reached a point where "it looked like there are no laws in cyberspace except the laws of the jungle."