Lay-offs could be a warning, say watchdog bodies
The retrenchment of over 40 journalists by The Sun could be meant as a warning to other journalists that they will pay dearly if they cross the line, said a Malaysian citizens media watchdog body today.
Charter 2000 said the abrupt sacking of the journalists appeared to be targeted at those who protested the suspension editorial staff involved in the daily's controversial Plot to kill PM front-page story on Christmas Day.
In their joint statement Dr Mustafa Anuar and Anil Netto joint coordinators of Charter 2000 and social reform movement Aliran said the lay-offs were counterproductive and could seal the newspaper's fate.
"A newspaper can only build credibility if it reports accurately and fairly while presenting a broad range of views including dissenting opinions," said their statement.
They added that the sackings at The Sun had sealed the fate of mainstream media freedom by showing that even remotely independent journalism in popular media would not be tolerated.
Commended but retrenched
Meanwhile, former employees of The Sun cheered last night when a colleague was commended by the Perak immigration department for accurate reporting.
Sports journalist RG Raj was yesterday singled out by the Perak immigration department for accurate reporting on the controversy involving German soccer coach Karl Weigang.
Weigang was in July last year ordered to leave Malaysia after he admitted to being in Perak and training the state's football team for seven months without a valid work permit.
Raj, however, who had been with The Sun for the past five years, was among the 42 laid off in the mass retrenchment exercise carried out by the company's management last Friday.
The retrenchment of over 40 journalists by The Sun could be meant as a warning to other journalists that they will pay dearly if they cross the line, said a Malaysian citizens media watchdog body today.
Charter 2000 said the abrupt sacking of the journalists appeared to be targeted at those who protested the suspension editorial staff involved in the daily's controversial Plot to kill PM front-page story on Christmas Day.
In their joint statement Dr Mustafa Anuar and Anil Netto joint coordinators of Charter 2000 and social reform movement Aliran said the lay-offs were counterproductive and could seal the newspaper's fate.
"A newspaper can only build credibility if it reports accurately and fairly while presenting a broad range of views including dissenting opinions," said their statement.
They added that the sackings at The Sun had sealed the fate of mainstream media freedom by showing that even remotely independent journalism in popular media would not be tolerated.
Commended but retrenched
Meanwhile, former employees of The Sun cheered last night when a colleague was commended by the Perak immigration department for accurate reporting.
Sports journalist RG Raj was yesterday singled out by the Perak immigration department for accurate reporting on the controversy involving German soccer coach Karl Weigang.
Weigang was in July last year ordered to leave Malaysia after he admitted to being in Perak and training the state's football team for seven months without a valid work permit.
Raj, however, who had been with The Sun for the past five years, was among the 42 laid off in the mass retrenchment exercise carried out by the company's management last Friday.
During the third nightly vigil held outside the company's office yesterday, employees gathered yet again to protest their retrenchment and non-payment of bonuses.
Sources have informed malaysiakini that about a dozen more in the daily's production department may face a similar fate.
The ex-employees carried candles and displayed placard which said 'Justice for Journalists'. Among those who turned up to express their support were Teresa Kok, member of parliament for Seputeh as well as journalists from other media.
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