After suspending two publications from The Edge, the Home Ministry is now mulling action against Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown.
Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said if police investigation on Rewcastle-Brown finds “criminal elements”, it will take action, including calling for her extradition.
Ahmad Zahid said in a statement tonight that he is referring to claims of foreign intervention in the internal affairs of the country.
"If there are criminal elements committed by Rewcastle Brown, there is already bilateral exchange of intelligence between Malaysia and Britain.
"Depending on the results of the police investigation, the ministry, through Wisma Putra, will deal with the British government if there is a prima facie case for legal action against Rewcastle Brown," he said.
He said cooperation between the Royal Malaysian Police and Scotland Yard is well-established, which will help smoothen things if they need to execute an extradition order for the founder of the whistleblower site.
"The principle of 'sovereignty' is recognised between countries. Certainly, the British will not condone it if any of its citizens interfere in the internal affairs of another country," he said.
Ahmad Zahid said although Malaysia celebrates freedom of expression, it will not tolerate information that has been tampered with, neither would it accept fabricated news.
"This is (serious) especially if Rewcastle Brown’s expose is done with malicious intentions," he added.
Limiting 1MDB coverage
Yesterday, the Home Ministry suspended the publishing permit of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months, starting July 27.
The suspension was based on its articles on 1MDB which the Home Ministry claimed to be "prejudicial or likely to be prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion or is likely to prejudicial to public and national interest".
The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) had on Sunday directed local Internet service providers to block access to Sarawak Report .
Malaysia's decision to suspend two publications from the Edge Media Group and block access to Sarawak Report has been strongly criticised by civil society, including journalist groups and business leaders .
Yesterday, MCMC also warned it will take action under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 (CMA) against those found to be republishing content from the whistleblower site .
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