Pro-government group harasses journalists in Malaysia
| Publisher | Committee to Protect Journalists |
| Publication Date | 17 October 2016 |
| Cite as | Committee to Protect Journalists, Pro-government group harasses journalists in Malaysia, 17 October 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/580f700211.html [accessed 5 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Bangkok, October 17, 2016 – Malaysian authorities should swiftly bring to justice those responsible for harassing three journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Members of a pro-government group threatened journalists covering a confrontation between a group associated with the ruling party and a rival group on October 15, according to press reports.
Members of Malaysia's "red shirt" group demonstrate in support of the government on the country's national day, in Kuala Lumpur, September 16, 2015 (Reuters/Olivia Harris)
Three reporters from the English-language daily newspaper The Star were covering a confrontation between members of the ruling United Malays National Organization (UNMO)'s "red shirt" group and members of the rival, yellow-clad group Bersih 5.0, who were distributing political flyers in the Kuala Selangor district of Selangor State, when members of the "red shirts" grabbed them, pushed them, and demanded they delete videos the reporters had recorded of the confrontation, The Star reported.
Videographer Akil Yunus was surrounded and forced to delete pictures he had recorded on his cell phone, according to a video interview with him published on The Star's website. One unidentified assailant took a picture of the journalist's media identification tag, the report said. The assailants repeatedly asked if any of the three reporters were affiliated with the news website Malaysiakini, which is known for its critical reports of the UMNO government, the report said.
"Malaysia should fully prosecute those involved in the attack on The Star's reporters, including any political leaders found to be complicit in the 'red shirt' group's attempt to suppress news of its intimidation tactics," said Shawn Crispin, CPJ's senior Southeast Asia representative. "Prime Minister Najib Razak should send a clear message to all of his supporters that assaults on journalists will not be tolerated and that all media groups will be protected equally from harassment and violence."
Police Superintendent Ruslan Abdullah told reporters that three suspects had been arrested and other alleged perpetrators were under investigation, according to news reports. Ruslan said authorities were pursuing the case under section 105 of the Criminal Procedure Code and section 506 of the Penal Code, which deal with issues of criminal intimidation, the reports said. One of the attacked journalists filed a police report over the incident, news reports said.
CPJ research shows that journalists frequently come under attack while covering political street demonstrations in Malaysia. The assault on The Star reporters coincides with news that Bersih 5.0, a coalition of nongovernmental organizations calling for free and fair elections, plans to stage on November 19 a mass street protest to call for Najib's resignation over a financial scandal involving a state investment fund he created and oversees. Authorities have censored, harassed, and threatened local and foreign journalists who have reported critically on the fund.
