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Malaysiakini condemns arrest of five editors
Published:  Mar 31, 2015 12:21 PM
Updated: 10:27 PM

Malaysiakini condemns in the strongest possible terms the arrest of editors and the publisher of The Malaysian Insider over a purportedly erroneous news report.

 

This is a blatant assault on media freedom and renders hollow the transformation pledges by Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

 

While media freedom does not permit news organisations to publish false articles, there is, however, no justification to arrest and remand editors and journalists.

 

The police can easily conduct their investigations without the need to resort to such drastic measures.

 

Unless, of course, this is a diabolical attempt by the authorities to strike fear in the hearts of journalists and prevent them from carrying out their duties to hold those in power accountable for their actions.

 

Such unscrupulous methods and abuse of state apparatuses are the hallmarks of authoritarian regimes seeking to silence dissent.

 

And often, such crackdowns are carried out under the guise of maintaining peace and order. Malaysians must come together and defeat such insidious designs.

 

We shall not be intimidated

 

Malaysiakini calls for the immediate release of the editors and commends The Malaysian Insider's chief executive Jahabar Sadiq for vowing that the news portal would not be intimidated by this latest attack on the media.

 

Since our inception in 1999, Malaysiakini has been subjected to numerous pressures from the government.

Our office too was raided by the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission many times. Last year, one of our journalists was also arrested under the Sedition Act.

 

However, we have remained resolute, thanks to the generous support from Malaysians.

Likewise, we call on all Malaysians and media practitioners to support The Malaysian Insider in its hour of darkness.

 

After all, an attack on one of us is an attack on all of us.

 

This is the time for journalists to join hands and send a clear message to those in power that the pen is indeed mightier than the sword.

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