CIJ concerned for press freedom in Malaysia after attempt to cite Malaysiakini for contempt
June 18, 2020
The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is deeply concerned with the recent filing of an ex-parte application by Attorney-General Idrus Harun to initiate contempt of court proceedings against Malaysiakini and its editor-in-chief, Steven Gan, over comments on its website by the news portal’s readers. We worry that the contempt of court proceedings against Malaysiakini will lead to more instances of media censorship, affecting the future of press freedom in Malaysia.
Since the change of government at the federal level this February, we have already seen at least three journalists being harassed online or investigated by the police for reports they produced – Tashny Sukumaran, Melissa Goh and Kow Gah Chie – as well as threats against the online media for “misreporting”, “unofficial media” being barred from covering official press conferences and efforts by the State to define “fake news”. This is a shocking trend as it was only a few weeks ago when Malaysia went up 22 spots to rank 101st on the 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
Media freedom and freedom of expression and speech underpins the fundamental right to seek and exchange ideas, opinions and information that would enable the public to form their own opinions and allow for dissenting or alternative positions, specifically on issues of public interests, besides promoting good governance and holding the State to account. A harm test must be administered to determine legitimacy, necessity and proportionality before attacking these freedoms.
We stand in solidarity with Malaysiakini and call for media freedom and independence to be respected and protected in Malaysia by the State.
18 June 2020
Wathshlah G. Naidu
CIJ Executive Director
For media inquiries, contact Vinodh Pillai at media_comms@cijmalaysia.net
