The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) is alarmed at the increasing use of police reports to try and silence genuine criticism and reasoned discourse. The most recent such example is the police report filed by Jaringan Melayu Malaysia’s Federal Territory chief Faizan Mohd Nor against The Star’s Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Wong Chun Wai.
Faizan had complained that a column Wong had written expressing concern at the racially-fueled protests over the Datum Jelatek project was “confusing, slanderous and seditious.” The report also demonstrated a worrying assumption about The Star’s loyalties. It said that as The Star holds a printing license from the Home Affairs ministry, it “must uphold government policy” and “become a mouthpiece that talks about national unity and not incite racial tensions in Malaysia.”
CIJ is of the view that discourse and debate should never be silenced and reasoned discussions about ethnic issues are important for Malaysians to deal with any differences and tensions. Lodging police reports against journalists and columnists for merely carrying out their job is an act of intimidation and harassment.
CIJ hopes that the police take no heed of Faizan’s report and focus their attention on genuine offences that threaten Malaysians’ safety. CIJ calls on the police to seriously investigate the death threats that were made against a female journalist from a Tamil newspaper in Penang which were reportedly in connection with the arrest of 33 men for planning a riot on Thaipusam day.
Sonia Randhawa and Jac Kee
Directors
Centre for Independent Journalism
6 Feb 2015
