Dear Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim
In July 2010, the Member of Parliament for Bayan Baru (Penang), Dato’ Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, held a press conference and informed the media about the contents of my e-mail. He briefed the media in great detail about what he had found in my e-mail account.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
Dear Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim,
I refer to today’s news item by Bernama (MCMC no slacker in acting against Internet abusers) where you were quoted as having said: “We have taken action, are taking action and will take action against the offenders.”
I would like to bring to your attention that a year ago today my e-mail was compromised. I discovered that my password does not work and suspected that my account may have been hacked.
I suspected this because earlier my [email protected] e-mail account had also been hacked and since then I am no longer able to access it. That first hacking coincided with the time the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) came to my house to confiscate my computer so I can only assume that the hacking was the work of the Malaysian police.
Anyway, on this second occasion last year, I contacted Jeanie Santoso of Google Singapore who so kindly contacted her head office in the United States to get my password changed. Within 24 hours I managed to take back control of my e-mail account.
I suspected, however, whoever had taken control of my e-mail account over those 24 hours must have printed out all my e-mail communications and my suspicion was proven two months ago.
In July 2010, the Member of Parliament for Bayan Baru (Penang), Dato’ Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, held a press conference and informed the media about the contents of my e-mail. He briefed the media in great detail about what he had found in my e-mail account.
I can only assume that either Zahrain Mohamed Hashim is behind the hacking of my e-mail account or he is working in concert with those who are behind the hacking. Either way he is somehow involved.
I would be grateful if you could get MCMC to take action against Zahrain Mohamed Hashim, as what you said they would do. I take it that as a Cabinet Minister you are aware that the hacking of someone’s e-mail account and calling a press conference to announce to the world the contents of that e-mail is a crime. By taking action against Zahrain Mohamed Hashim this would prove that you are serious about this matter and that the government is not just taking action against those perceived as anti-Umno while pro-Umno people are immune from prosecution.
I realise it is not in the interest of the Malaysian government if it is made known that a Malaysian Member of Parliament is working with certain parties or is heading an operation to hack the e-mail accounts of Malaysians. This is almost like the infamous American Watergate scandal although this ‘breaking in’ was not physical as much as it is cyber.
Nevertheless, I am sure that some laws have been broken and that we can and should do something about it. The fact that Zahrain Mohamed Hashim has admitted his act and that the Malaysian mainstream newspapers carried the news of his press conference plus that of his admission/confession that he has access to my e-mail account and knows what is in it makes it easy for the government to prove its case against him.
I look forward to your advice and guidance on this matter if you wish to pursue this matter. Below are links to the press conference where Zahrain Mohamed Hashim admitted he has details of what is in my e-mail account.
Thank you.
Yours truly,
Raja Petra Kamarudin
ADDENDUM
http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2010/7/15/nation/6669111&sec=nation
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/42394-zahrain-furnishes-proof-rpks-sponsors-london
http://www.mmail.com.my/content/42561-khairy-wants-police-investigate-pkr
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MCMC no slacker in acting against Internet abusers: Rais
(Bernama) — The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is no slacker in taking action against those who abuse the Internet, Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said today.
“We have taken action, are taking action and will take action against the offenders.”
“But we need to be very cautious as the cyber world is very complicated,” he told the media after launching the second Kampung WiFi (kg WiFi) network at Rh Guntol, Nanga Bekiok, in Merurun here.
“What the public does not know is that there are many things which we do confidentially… that we do not air out. But MCMC has done its job well,” he said.
Dr Rais said that for instance 13 cases had been forwarded to the Attorney-General’s Chambers, of which six had been made known to the public.
They involved belittling the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the sultans of Perak and Johor, despising other religions, instigation, spreading lies, phishing, and making sensitive racial sentiments.
“It is for the Attorney-General’s Chambers to make the final decision,” he said.
Dr Rais said some 503 websites were being looked at by the MCMC for various offences.
He said efforts were being made to improve enforcement units in terms of acquiring more computer forensics experts, training and relevant equipment.
“All investigations will be based on the new approach of using computer science and knowledge,” he said.
