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In a joint statement, they urged the police and Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to respect the freedom of the media.
“We condemn the recent seizure of Malaysiakini’s laptop and the authorities’ demand for access to the media organisation’s content management system,” they said.
They added that the investigation of Khairy was straightforward while the seizure of newsroom equipment and access to sensitive data was excessive and undermined a free and independent media.
“This advances a chilling trend of weaponising legal measures to stifle critical reporting, turning journalists into ‘witnesses’ while threatening their independence and journalistic confidentiality,” they said.
They also demanded that the government take all necessary steps to safeguard the independence and safety of media practitioners and pursue proper legal and investigative channels instead.
The statement was issued by the Centre for Independent Journalism, the National Union of Journalists Malaysia, Twentytwo13, Persatuan Wartawan Malaysia, veteran newsman Abdul Kadir Jasin, national journalism laureate Johan Jaafar, and several others.
Police recently interrogated Malaysiakini’s executive editor RK Anand and confiscated his laptop following a police report lodged over an article quoting Khairy’s comments in his Keluar Sekejap podcast.
Earlier today, communications minister Fahmi Fadzil said Malaysiakini is merely a witness in the police investigation.
He also said that MCMC was acting as a technical agency to assist the police in their probe, based on instructions from the Attorney-General’s Chambers.
Yesterday, FMT reported an academic as saying that the police might have exceeded their authority in confiscating the laptop and demanding access to Malaysiakini’s backend.
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