LETTER | PEN Malaysia strongly condemns the violent attack on award-winning journalist Haresh Deol in Bangsar on Tuesday afternoon.

Haresh, who has been reporting extensively on the ongoing “forged documents” scandal involving individuals alleged to have obtained Malaysian citizenship fraudulently, was assaulted by three men in what appears to be a targeted act of intimidation and a direct threat to freedom of expression in the country.

Haresh was walking towards his car after a meeting when he noticed two men loitering nearby. When he sensed danger and tried to run, a third man knocked him to the ground.

All three proceeded to assault him, while one recorded the attack on a mobile phone. They fled without taking any belongings, pointing to a motive rooted in harassment rather than theft.

PEN Malaysia views this attack as also an attempt to silence a journalist carrying out work that is of public interest. Haresh has served the media industry for 25 years, and this is the first physical attack he has faced.

The timing and context therefore, raise grave concerns about the shrinking space for independent reporting and critical commentary.

We commend Haresh for lodging a police report promptly and urge the authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly, transparently, and without delay.

Identifying and prosecuting not only the attackers but also any individuals who may have ordered or coordinated the assault is essential. Anything less risks normalising violence against journalists and weakening public trust in the justice system.

Malaysia must not become a place where those who report the truth do so at personal risk. A safe, free, and enabling environment for all journalists is fundamental to safeguarding media freedom, accountability, and meaningful public debate.

When reporters are threatened, attacked, or intimidated, society loses access to vital information.

PEN Malaysia stands in solidarity with Haresh, his family, and the Twentytwo13 newsroom. We call on the government to guarantee the safety of all media workers, uphold its commitments to freedom of expression, and send an unequivocal message that violence and intimidation against journalists will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.