(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 January 2003 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its outrage over the recent police raid on the offices of the online newspaper “Malaysiakini”, one of the few independent news outlets in Malaysia. Though police have not yet filed any charges against the publication, authorities said they are investigating […]
(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 January 2003 letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, CPJ expressed its outrage over the recent police raid on the offices of the online newspaper “Malaysiakini”, one of the few independent news outlets in Malaysia. Though police have not yet filed any charges against the publication, authorities said they are investigating the online paper for sedition.
On 21 January, at around 11 a.m. (local time), editor Steven Gan complied with an official order to appear in person at local police headquarters in the capital, Kuala Lumpur. Following a three-hour interrogation session, Gan told reporters, “From the line of questioning, I have a strong belief that they will likely take action against me.”
On 20 January, responding to a complaint from the youth wing of the ruling United Malays National Party (UMNO), police from a special “computer crimes” department entered the “Malaysiakini” offices in Kuala Lumpur, interrogated several journalists present, and seized all of the company’s computers, according to staff at the online paper. The police officers occupied the offices from noon until about 5:30 p.m. The Web site (www.malaysiakini.com) was operating again by about 10:00 p.m. that night.
Police Superintendent Mohamad Kamarrudin of the Computer Crimes Division told the staff at the online paper that the computers would be held and searched for evidence in a possible sedition case to be brought against “Malaysiakini”, according to sources at the company.
Pemuda-UMNO, the party’s youth wing, had complained five days earlier to police about a letter “Malaysiakini” published on 9 January. The letter, published anonymously, criticized the system of racial preferences that favors ethnic Malays in the country and also compared Pemuda-UMNO to the Ku Klux Klan in the United States. Pemuda-UMNO, in their police complaint, alleged that this letter was seditious and could incite racial hatred in the country.
During the police raid, officials had initially demanded that “Malaysiakini” reveal the identity of the letter’s author. When Gan refused, officers began seizing the computers.
If authorities decide to pursue a sedition charge against “Malaysiakini”, the police could hold the company’s computers indefinitely, making it difficult for the news organization to continue functioning, according to journalists at the paper. Sedition is punishable by up to three years’ imprisonment; possession of seditious material is punishable by up to 18 months in prison.
Gan told reporters that the raid was an attempt to shut down “Malaysiakini”. It was a matter of journalistic principle, he added, that the paper not reveal the identity of the letter writer.
CPJ deplores the raid on “Malaysiakini” as a direct attempt to censor the Internet, which has become one of the only means for citizens to access independent news and opinion. While Prime Minister Mohamad’s government exerts stringent controls over the print and broadcast media, the prime minister told reporters in 2000 that, “We have accepted that the Internet should be free. And we are not going to interfere.”
“Malaysiakini” has filled a void for its readers, allowing them access to uncensored news and information since it went online in 1999. In recognition of his work with “Malaysiakini”, editor Gan received an International Press Freedom Award from CPJ in November 2000 (see IFEX alert of 23 October 2000).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the prime minister:
– calling on his government to return “Malaysiakini”‘s property immediately and to drop the threat to pursue legal action against the company
– noting that by publishing letters from its readers and protecting its sources, “Malaysiakini” is upholding the internationally accepted standards of a free press in facilitating public discussion of controversial issues
Appeals To
His Excellency Dato’ Seri Dr. Mahathir Mohamad
Prime Minister
Federal Government Administration Center
Bangunan Perdana Putra
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia
Fax: +60 3 8888 3444Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
