DATE=8/12/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-236938
TITLE=MALAYSIA/ INTERNET (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LIM SHU LING
DATELINE=KUALA LUMPUR
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: MALAYSIAN POLICE HAVE BEGUN ARRESTING PEOPLE SUSPECTED OF
SPREADING RUMORS OF UNREST IN THE COUNTRY OVER THE INTERNET. LIM
SHU LING REPORTS FROM KUALA LUMPUR THAT THE RUMORS HAD A
DETRIMENTAL EFFECT ON AN ALREADY TROUBLED ECONOMY.
TEXT: AUTHORITIES HAVE MOVED SWIFTLY TO DETAIN TWO PEOPLE UNDER
THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT FOR ALLEGEDLY CIRCULATING RUMORS OF
IMPENDING VIOLENCE IN MALAYSIA OVER THE INTERNET. RUMOURS OF
RIOTING IN KUALA LUMPUR BY INDONESIAN WORKERS SPREAD THROUGHOUT
THE COUNTRY LAST FRIDAY, CAUSING CITY RESIDENTS TO PANIC AND
THRONG TO SHOPS TO STOCK UP ON ESSENTIAL ITEMS.
THE RUMORS CAME AHEAD OF AN AUGUST 15TH DEADLINE FOR THE RENEWAL
OF WORK PERMITS FOR INDONESIAN WORKERS. MORE THAN 200-THOUSAND
INDONESIANS WILL HAVE TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY BECAUSE THEIR WORK
PERMITS WILL NOT BE RENEWED. MALAYSIA HAS ALREADY DEPORTED
THOUSANDS OF INDONESIAN ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS BECAUSE OF THE
ECONOMIC DOWNTURN IN THE COUNTRY.
PRIME MINISTER MAHATHIR MOHAMMAD HAS LABELED THE RUMOR-MONGERS AS
TRAITORS. HE SAID THE INCIDENT HAD WEAKENED EFFORTS TO REVIVE
THE TROUBLED ECONOMY AND INSTILL CONFIDENCE IN THE NATION.
FOLLOWING THE RUMORS, THE STOCK MARKET AND THE MALAYSIAN CURRENCY
REGISTERED SHARP DECLINES.
THE TWO SUSPECTS WILL BE DETAINED INITIALLY FOR A 60-DAY PERIOD.
UNDER THE INTERNAL SECURITY ACT, PEOPLE DEEMED TO BE A RISK TO
NATIONAL SECURITY CAN BE DETAINED WITHOUT TRIAL FOR UP TO TWO
YEARS.
POLICE HAVE WARNED THERE WILL BE MORE ARRESTS SOON. THE
AUTHORITIES ARE TRACKING DOWN SUSPECTS WITH THE HELP OF INTERNET
SERVICE PROVIDERS AND COMPUTER EXPERTS. THEY ADDED THAT THE
RUMORS HAD NOT ORIGINATED FROM OUTSIDE MALAYSIA.
THE POLICE SAID THE SITUATION IN KUALA LUMPUR IS NOW CALM AND IT
APPEARS NO MORE RUMORS ARE BEING SPREAD VIA THE INTERNET.
(SIGNED)
NEB/LSL/GC/PLM
12-Aug-98 3:34 AM EDT (0734 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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