KUALA LUMPUR: The Communications and Multimedia Ministry admitted today that it did not know the identity of the Red Bean Army, amid a witch-hunt over the alleged group of opposition-funded cybertroopers.
Kinabatangan MP Bung Moktar Radin demanded in parliament today whether the ministry was taking any action against “bloggers like the Red Bean Army, who are sponsored by the DAP – although they do not admit it.”
“Slanderous bloggers are all over the Internet, just like the Red Bean Army,” said the vocal BN backbencher.
His statement elicited groans and protests from opposition parliamentarians, causing Bung Moktar to say: “See that? The moment I mention the Red Bean Army, the DAP act as if they are being choked, they get so riled up.
“If the DAP is not behind the Red Bean Army, then keep quiet, Just support us (BN) in asking for the government to take action.”
But in response to Bung Moktar’s question, Deputy Communications and Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari said: “the truth is, in the case of the Red Bean Army, we still do know who the Red Bean Army really is.
“But we are told that they receive funding from that side (the opposition).”
The remainder of his admission was quickly drowned out by laughter from Pakatan Rakyat parliamentarians in the Dewan Rakyat.
One gleeful MP shouted: “They don’t know who (the army is), but they are hurling accusations everywhere!”
But Jailani Johari said that the authorities were mulling action over the Red Bean Army.
“If this case is carried out, the investigation will take time. We know that technology changes at every moment, and in this matter, we are still identifying (the elements involved). Even as we speak, new technology is being discovered,” he said.
“So let the authorities, such as the police and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission cooperate with one another in carrying out action and investigation.
“We will inform the public of the results of the investigation,” he told the parliament.
On Tuesday, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Shahidan Kassim told reporters the Cabinet would discuss the possibility of setting up a Royal Commission of Inquiry to probe the army, following requests from severan non-governmental organisations.
DAP has been accused of spending RM100 million since 2008 to fund the Red Bean Army – a claim that DAP national advisor Lim Kit Siang has vehemently denied several times.
Anisah Shukry
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