Irwan Abdul Rahman, a Malaysian editor and blogger known as “Hassan Skodeng” was charged on 2 September 2010 with publishing false information on his satirical blog. He was accused of publishing online content deemed “obscene, indecent, false, menacing or offensive in character with malicious intent.” He pleaded not guilty and was later released after posting bail of RM4,000 (approx. US$1,285).
Rahman’s blog article, “TNB to sue WWF over earth hour” posted in March this year claimed that the head of Malaysia’s main electricity firm, Tenaga Nasional, would allegedly sue the environmental group World Wildlife Fund “for urging people to switch off their lights for the annual Earth Hour initiative”. It was taken down two days after it was published.
