Journalist groups today demanded the Kelantan Forestry Department to conduct a probe into the arrest of two journalists in Gua Musang, Kelantan on Tuesday.
The Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IOJ), Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM) and Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) in a joint statement, also alleged that one of the journalists (Too Chee Hung @ Chi Too) was warned by the officers to not be like Bruno Manser, a Swiss environment activist who campaigned against logging in Sarawak but went missing in May 2000.
The statement also expressed concerns over Chi Too and his colleague Jules Ong, who were engaged by Singapore broadcaster Channel News Asia, initially being denied access to lawyer Siti Kasim, who acted on their behalf during their detention.
"According to Siti Kasim, the authorities had initially denied her access to both Ong and Chi Too but relented after arguing on points of law. She said they are being investigated under Section 47 of the National Forestry Act for being in a forest reserve without a permit."