The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) is unhappy with the 'routine interview' of a broadcast journalist by the police in Kedah last week, which it described as 'highly irregular'.

NUJ secretary-general Hong Boon How criticised the police for going after the journalist instead of nailing the culprits who were exposed in the report that was aired during prime-time news on Feb 27.

"The police should have visited the site based on the report and chased after the culprits instead of going after the journalist who reported the issue following a tip-off," he said when contacted yesterday.

"The police should start questioning the relevant government agencies or approving authority instead of digging for information by asking the journalist to reveal his or her sources," he added.

The Malay Mail reported Tuesday that TV3 journalist Fazli Ahmad was grilled by Special Branch officers at his office, particularly on the journalist's motive and his sources which led to his reports on environmental issues in Kedah.

He was also reportedly asked who had assigned him the job.

Kedah police chief Supian Amat, quoted in the Malay Mail on Wednesday, described the questioning session as a "routine interview" by the Special Branch and denied that it was an interrogation.

Fazli could not be reached for comment.

Stop the harassment

Hong said that although broadcast journalists do not fall under the NUJ, the fear was that other journalists could be subjected to similar harassment.

"In fact, such incidents had taken place before where some journalists were visited by the police and municipal council officials but we've only received verbal complaints over the years.

"Such harassment should be stopped immediately, especially this incident which appears to be highly irregular and not in accordance with proper procedures.

Following public tip-offs, Alor Star-based Fazli said he had been reporting on the clearing of land and hills in several forest reserves and water catchment areas namely in Bukit Perangin, Ah Ning and Sebapin.

Hong said even the slightest harassment would adversely affect the profession which is to report without fear or favour.

"That is the fundamental foundations of a democracy. The public have a right to tip-off the media and it is the duty of a free press to publish public interest issues involving people's livelihood, the environment and their freedom," he added.

"Intimidation of the press defeats the whole purpose of a free press. This is something that the government claims to be true over and above claims that it does not meddle with media operations."

He said that any sign of intimidation against journalists who are duty-bound to protect their sources at personal risk would invalidate the government's claim of practicing democracy and all the freedoms.

"A journalist should not be in the picture at all once a report has been published or aired. The police should go after the relevant parties involved in the dispute or issue."

If the identity of a source is compromised, he said, no one would dare to come forward with tips on suspected wrongdoings.

"There will be no more whistleblowers or tips from those directly or adversely affected by any wrongdoings.

"The government should take the exposure of alleged wrongdoings from news reports as the basis for further action or investigation instead of harassing journalists," he added

Hong cited the 2003 police raid of Internet news organisation malaysiakini as an example of intimidation.

He cautioned journalists who are caught in a similar predicament as Fazli to first inform their superiors before proceeding to lodge a police report regarding the harassment over their articles.

"The media organisation also plays an active role here by offering protection and defending the actions of their journalists.

"This way, journalists will not be fearful in conducting investigative reporting in our country where we are already limited by anti-press laws," he said.

'Deliberate intimidation'

Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) strongly protested the police's questioning session as "deliberate intimidation".

"(It was) towards a reporter who was only doing his job of informing society about an issue of public concern," it said in a statement today.

"The topic was all the more timely and pertinent as the prime minister himself has been shocked by the environmental degradation elsewhere as exposed in the media recently, and has ordered remedial action," it added.

Demanding for the investigation against Fazli to be dropped, the CIJ urged the police to recognise the role of journalists and the media in protecting the interests and well-being of society.

Yesterday, the DAP condemned the police questioning as obstructing journalists from doing their professional duties.