Attack one of us and you attack us all.
This was the rallying call for about 50 media practitioners and supporters who braved the drizzle in Kuala Lumpur tonight to stand in solidarity with the detained The Malaysian Insider editors.
They gathered in front of the Dang Wangi police headquarters from as early as 7pm, holding candles and wearing yellow ribbons to symbolise press freedom.
The group had also waited for the release of TMI managing editor Lionel Morais, Bahasa news Amin Iskandar and features and analysis editor Zulkifli Sulong, who were released at 8.20pm.
The trio were welcomed with cheers and applause by the vigil-goers when they approached the exit.
They also joined the vigil, condemning the arrests as unnecessary.
"It is unacceptable, because we have cooperated since day one, I don't think we should be here in the first place," Amin said.
The trio are free after police failed to secure a remand order but TMI chief executive Jahabar Sadiq and The Edge publisher Ho Kay Tat will spend the night in lock-up with the remand hearing scheduled for tomorrow.
They were arrested over a TMI report claiming the Conference of Rulers rejected hudud but the keeper of rulers' seal denied this.
TMI is part of the Edge Media Group.
Don't silence us
This is the second night media have gathered outside of the Dang Wangi district headquarters in solidarity with their colleagues.
Last night, about 25 journalists held an impromptu gathering following the raid on the portal's office at about 7pm.
Star's @chunwai09 seen at vigil4 KayTat, @jahabarsadiq journos united! Half the crowd calling it a night #freetmi pic.twitter.com/ZeVKcP4T5i
— BERSIH 2.0 (@bersih2) March 31, 2015
Tonight's vigil co-organiser Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm) said most major media organisations were present.
Among those present were journalists from The Star, The New Straits Times, The Sun, The Edge, The Malay Mail Online, The Ant Daily, Malaysiakini, The Malaysian Insider, Berita Daily and The Rocket.
"We can't keep quiet when our profession and livelihood are being attacked.
"We are here because we believe that it's unfair for our friends," Geramm member Radzi Razak said.
Also present during the vigil was Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng, who held a candle and spoke to the trio who were released.
The group also chanted "bebas Jahabar", "bebas Kay Tat" and "bebas media" before dispersing at about 10.30pm.
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