Journalists must be allowed to do their work without facing threats, acts of violence or intimidation, the Institute of Journalists (IOJ) declared today.

"While the authorities have the right to conduct investigations, it is unacceptable to have other parties use the opportunity to harass a media entity while the investigations are ongoing," IOJ said in a statement.

IOJ also strongly condemned the use of "anti-terrorism laws" against Malaysiakini, over reports that the portal received funding from Open Society Foundations (OSF), which is linked to American billionaire George Soro.

Malaysiakini is being investigated under Section 124C of the Penal Code for attempts to commit an act detrimental to parliamentary democracy.

"The use of anti-terrorism laws against a media company sets a disturbing precedent, and is a heavy-handed method that can be seen as an attempt to silence dissent," IOJ said.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) called on the police to investigate the red shirts for criminal intimidation.

'Statement is criminal intimidation'

"Jamal's recent statement does fall under criminal intimidation under 503 of the Penal Code.

"NUJ Malaysia is appalled to hear of this threat especially in a democratic country like ours.

"The laws of this country clearly state that no one, group or organisation can take the law into their own hands, especially towards media practitioners who are held by the code of ethics for journalists," it said.

The Umno leader's action to make part of the Malaysiakini building in Petaling Jya "to collapse" also received condemnation from Amnesty International (AI).

"Everyone has a right to peaceful protest, but what the red-shirts are threatening is violence.

"They have a right to freedom of expression but they cannot use threat and violence to deny journalists that same right," said Josef Benedict, Amnesty International’s deputy director for South East Asia and the Pacific.

"The threats against Malaysiakini are the latest instance of the right to freedom of expression coming under attack in the country.

"The authorities have a human rights obligation to protect journalists. They must be allowed to work freely and without fear of violent attacks," Benedict added.

Yesterday, Jamal, along with a contingent of more than 100 red-shirts members, visited the portal's office in Petaling Jaya.

Jamal demanded that Malaysiakini discloses its financial statements and other documents by noon on Nov 5, failing which he will lead his followers to "make sure part of the Malaysiakini office building will collapse" on that day.

Both Malaysiakini chief executive officer Premesh Chandran and editor-in-chief Steven Gan have denied the claim that the OSF grant was given with the aim of toppling the government.

A detailed explanation has been provided on this issue, while OSF has also denied that it is motivated by an agenda to topple governments.

Premesh has also clarified that the grant in relation to KiniTV was used to produce the Realiti Sarawak and Sekilas Bumi Kenyalang programmes.