Police initiate investigation on report by Al Jazeera

Police have begun an investigation into reports on an alleged attempt by international news agency Al Jazeera to tarnish Malaysia’s image through a documentary on how the country treated undocumented migrants in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19.

Bukit Aman CID deputy director (Investigation/Legal) DCP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said the department was conducting an investigation following a report made by the Immigration Department at the Precinct 7 Police Station in Putrajaya.

"We have opened investigation papers under Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998," he told Bernama.

Investigations were being conducted by the Kuala Lumpur police contingent.

Mior said the police also received a report on a similar issue by a woman in Putrajaya around 9am today.

The complainant made a report after watching the documentary on YouTube and her statement had been taken, he added. 

Al Jazeera had released a 25-minute 50-second documentary entitled Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown that denounced the treatment of undocumented migrants when Malaysia took steps to tackle Covid-19.

Bernama today reported that the Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the report released by the news agency alleging that Malaysia discriminated against undocumented migrants was inaccurate and further investigations were underway.

Earlier, Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob wanted Al Jazeera to apologise to Malaysians for posting false and misleading information.

- Bernama 

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