PETALING JAYA, MALAYSIA: The authorities have been slow and tardy in taking action against the blogger who allegedly insulted the Prophet Mohammad and clear the name of the woman who had lodged a police report denying the Internet domain belonged to her.

DAP Parliamentary leader and MP for Ipoh Timor Lim Kit Siang said that instead, the woman in her 20s had been taken into custody to 'assist in investigations' and released on police bail despite her earlier complaints.

"Why have the police, RTM and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) been so tardy and laidback in taking action against the blog concerned?" he said.

"The woman victim had lodged reports with the police, the Information Minister and the MCMC weeks before the Utusan Malaysia report last Saturday," he noted.

Information Minister Datuk Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the woman had sought help from RTM to publicise the matter because the blog, which also allegedly contained Deepavali messages insulting the Hindus, was not hers and had tarnished her reputation and that of the company she works for, he said.

The police said Tuesday that they had identified suspects in connection with the blog and would call up several people to assist in the investigations under the Sedition Act. --THE STAR