STUDY WHY PEOPLE SPREAD LIES

KUALA LUMPUR, March 17 (Bernama) -- Unity, Culture, Arts and Heritage
Minister Mohd Shafie Apdal wants a study be conducted on why certain
people create blogs just to spread lies about others.

He said this study was necessary as the spread of lies has increased of late
and need to be contained.

"This is not a trivial matter and firm action must be taken. They were not
made by other races but also the Malays. My worry is that it will lead to issues
on culture, religion and economy," he said after opening the Malay Cultural
Congress II here Monday.

Shafie was commenting on the prosecution of six individuals for insulting
the Sultan of Perak, Sultan Azlan Shah in the sessions court in four states on
Friday.

He said firm action should be taken against those who create tension in the
country by using existing laws including the Sedition Act.

On the congress, he said the Malays have to remain united as a split based
on political difeerences would pose problems.

"But the reality is that there are now a handful of Malays bold enough to
question the monarchy institution as enshrined in the federal constitution."

Shafie urged all quarters to respect the constitution by placing it above
personal interest and political beliefs.

He said the advice given by the Malay rulers should be appreciated by all as
there were already efforts to deny the function of the monarchy institution.

The Malay Cultural Congress is only the second after the inaugural congress
opened by the late Abdul Razak on Dec 30, 1957 in Melaka.

It is jointly organised by the Culture and Arts Department, Language and
Literature Institute (Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka), the Federation of Malay Writers
Associations (GAPENA) and the Malaysian Historical Society.

--BERNAMA