The Malaysian government must accord journalists the same respect as they would practitioners of other professions, says Indonesia's union of journalists.
Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI) president Eko Maryadi said Malaysian journalists should be allowed to carry out their duties without fear or intimidation.
"AJI asks the police and Malaysian politicians to stop intimidating journalists and respect their profession as they respect practitioners of other professions such academics, teachers, doctors...," he told Malaysiakini .
Eko ( above ) said AJI was "very concerned" over news of the arrest of Malaysiakini assistant editor Susan Loone in Penang on Thursday under the Sedition Act.
"We stand in strong solidarity with all Malaysian journalists, especially the Malaysiakini editor who was arrested.”
AJI, he added, is keen to see the Malaysian government upholds its repeated promise of media freedom, "especially the right of journalists to find facts and report them with professionalism".
Loone ( left ) was arrested on Sept 4 over her interview with Penang executive councillor Phee Boon Poh, who himself was arrested in connection to the state's Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS).
She was released on bail after nine hours of questioning, and together with Malaysiakini , is being investigated under Section 4 (1)(c) of the law, which Prime Minister Najib Razak had vowed to repeal two years ago.
Her arrest sparked condemnation from media organisations in Malaysia and internationally, which deemed this as an attempt by the government to muzzle the press and prevent journalists from carrying out their duty.
Among those that lambasted the arrest include the National Union of Journalists in Malaysia and the Philippines.
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