Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm) spokesperson Fathi Aris Omar says the loose non-governmental organisation comprising of journalists, is prepared to be investigated by the police under the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 (PAA) for its Saturday protest in Kuala Lumpur.

Fathi, who is Malaysiakini's chief news editor, also claimed responsibility for the protest.

“I will give full co-operation to the police to investigate as long as they do not prohibit our rights in having the red-pencil protest. The campaign for a free media will take a long time and the investigation by the police, as reported in The Sun , would not weaken our spirits. We are willing to struggle further,” said Fathi in his tweet.

“I have to emphasise that the protest is just the beginning as we will continue the fight.

"Investigation is a normal process that as an editor, I have gone through. We will wait for the notice,” he said.

Fathi was responding to a report that appeared in The Sun that Kuala Lumpur Criminal Investigation Department chief Ku Chin Wah was quoted as saying they are investigating the Saturday protest under the PAA.

Ku said it would centre on whether the organisers had failed to adhere to the requirement of a 10-day notice under the PAA to hold such gatherings.

On Saturday, it was reported that 200 people comprising media practitioners, politicians and NGO leaders participated in the protest for a free media in view of the suspension of The Heat publication by the Home Ministry.

Geramm says it wants the authorities to hear the cries of a free media, It also is speaking out against the action of the authorities in the 2012 Bersih protest which resulted in some 11 journalists being hurt.

Eight demands

Also present in the protest were Bersih 2.0 former chairperson Ambiga Sreenevasan and social activist Marina Mahathir, along with politicians Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, Batu MP Tian Chua and Selangor deputy assembly speaker Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad.

Geramm has made eight demands as follows:

  • Lifting the suspension of The Heat .
  • Investigate the violence on protesters and journalists during the 2012 Bersih rally.
  • Abolish printing permits made mandatory under Publications and Printing Presses Act 1984.
  • Government do not ban media practitioners from covering government events and allow them access to public buildings.
  • Government must apologise to media practitioners for breach of media freedom.
  • Political parties should also not ban media practitioners.
  • Journalists should practice good ethics and demonstrate fair and balanced reporting.
  • Media practitioners should uphold the spirit of fairness, freedom and human rights.