The operator of popular website www.jiwang.org (JWG), who allegedly reaped hundreds of thousands of ringgit since 1997 by offering illegally downloaded and uploaded Malay songs, was detained by an enforcement team from the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry in Kelantan recently.
The ministry's enforcement director Mohd Roslan Mahayudin said the 35-year-old man was arrested after the team raided his house in Kubang Kerian, Kota Baru, on June 11.
According to Roslan the operator had gained money from advertising services and contributions from JWG members. "He admitted earning as much as RM10,000 per month in 2006 but his earnings have now dropped to RM1,500 after competitors used the same modus operandi," Roslan told reporters in Putrajaya today.
The enforcement team also seized information and communication technology (ICT) equipment worth RM30,000. The the man has been released on police bail.
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The enforcement team also seized information and communication technology (ICT) equipment worth RM30,000. The the man has been released on police bail.
He said the enforcement division would be issuing a blockage notice to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to prevent access to the JWG website as provided under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Roslan said at least 32 websites that offer illegal downloads and uploads of free music and movies in the country are currently being investigated.
Meanwhile, Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM) chief executive officer Tan Ngiap Foo said the music industry suffered losses of about RM10 million in the last five years due to the websites that illegally uploaded and downloaded songs in the country.
