Groups, MPs chide cops for barring Mkini from event

Rights groups have admonished the police’s decision to bar Malaysiakini from one of their events today.

Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm), a media advocacy group, questioned if the news portal was being treated this way due to its investigative reports.

“It was said that the instruction came from the top. Who was the top person?” Geramm spokesperson Radzi Razak asked.

This morning Malaysiakini journalists were barred from covering a police event in Kuala Lumpur that was supposed to feature Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain.

The “PDRM Special Dialogue II” event began with closed-door discussion sessions between the Bukit Aman Narcotics Department and stakeholders, including other law enforcement agencies under the Home Ministry and Finance Ministry.

The media was supposed to be able to cover the launch by Home Minister Saifuddin Nasution Ismail scheduled at 12.30pm.

However, at around 11am, a press officer for Bukit Aman told Malaysiakini journalists that they were not allowed to enter the event.

This was despite Malaysiakini having received an invitation for the event via email from Bukit Aman, to which this portal replied within the same day with details of two reporters who were assigned to cover the event.

Later in the day, however, Malaysiakini was allowed entry to cover a press conference involving Saifuddin, Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Home Ministry secretary-general Ruji Ubi.

Bad for relations

Radzi described barring the media from covering events as an “old tactic”.

He added that it was also unhelpful in strengthening ties between the media and police.

“Why is this still happening? If possible, we need an explanation,” Radzi said.

In a separate joint statement with the National Union of Journalists (NUJM), the two organisations said the police conduct was unprofessional and unwarranted.

“We also wish to emphasise that it is inappropriate for anyone to pick favourites with the media when it comes to invitations or coverage for official functions involving government agencies or ministries,” said Geramm and the NUJM.

Malaysiakini is an NUJM member.

Rights group Article 19 also criticised the police for its actions, calling it a form of censorship.

“Barring journalists from events is a form of censorship.

“It shows a fear of scrutiny and a desire to control the flow of information. A free press must be free for all,” it said on X.

Review needed

The police’s action also drew attention from DAP backbenchers, with Bangi MP Syahredzan Johan urging the former to reconsider its decision.

“It’s worth reviewing this decision. It brings disrepute to the organiser,” he said on X.

Kepong MP Lim Lip Eng also took to X over the matter asking for an explanation.

DAP central executive committee member Lee Chin Chen urged the Home Ministry to take measures to ensure the media is able to cover events freely.

He said he also backs Malaysiakini’s earlier reporting that quoted anonymous sources about internal plans to potentially reshuffle senior police officers, and any reprisals from the police against Malaysiakini are “unwarranted, immature, and a serious disregard for press freedom in Malaysia”.

“Any actions obstructing the freedom of the press not only betray democratic principles, it directly harms the public’s right to know. This cannot be tolerated in a democratic society,” the Bilut assemblyperson added.

The police are investigating Malaysiakini over its report about the possible reshuffle, and have made inquiries into the identity of sources that the portal refused to disclose.

Razarudin had dismissed the report as “untrue” because Bukit Aman has not issued an official statement about such transfers, while Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa reportedly said the investigation papers will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Chambers this week for further action.

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