Don't use outdated laws against Sin Chew - groups

Summary

• Geramm says Sin Chew Daily must ensure proper internal responsibility over a design blunder involving the Jalur Gemilang.

• However, it says there is no need for punitive action to be taken under the outdated Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

• UPDATED 5.13PM | CIJ also decries calls for serious action against Sin Chew.

Media groups have criticised those calling for the government to take action against Sin Chew Daily over a design blunder of the Malaysian flag.

Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) said while the daily must be accountable for the error, reactions must be measured and not use outdated laws.

“We strongly condemn any calls for extreme action, including public boycotts, harassment of media workers, or punitive measures under outdated laws like the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 (PPPA).

“These reactions don’t contribute to constructive discourse and only serve to endanger press freedom in Malaysia,” the group said in a statement today.

Yesterday, Sin Chew published a front-page illustration of a jong bearing the Malaysian and China flags to coincide with Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to the country.

However, the Malaysian flag was missing a crescent moon.

In an apology published yesterday, Sin Chew blamed a "technical error" for the mistake and vigorously apologised.

It fixed the digital version of the illustration and republished the corrected illustration in its print edition today.

However, some were not impressed and called for a more severe punishment, with former education minister Maszlee Malik saying an apology would not suffice.

Umno supreme council member Razlan Rafii urged the authorities to revoke Sin Chew's publication licence.

In a separate statement, CIJ acknowledged this issue as problematic due to the expectation that all media would be ethical and responsible in their reporting.

"As such, we would expect Sin Chew to be aware of the significance of the Malaysian flag to the nation's spirit and history.

"Nonetheless, the calls for serious action to be taken are unwarranted as Sin Chew has published a public apology along with a corrected illustration in both print and digital," it said.

Media Council can arbitrate

Geramm said this episode, and the reactions to it are reminders of why the country needs an independent Malaysian Media Council to address such situations.

“Such a body - free from government or political interference - can serve as a fair and professional platform to address ethical concerns and public complaints without resorting to punitive state action,” it added.

CIJ pointed out that any restrictions to media freedom must uphold international standards, where actions must meet the 3-part test – legitimacy, necessity and proportionality.

"In this context, the use of any laws, including archaic and repressive laws such as the PPPA and the Communications and Multimedia Act, would be disproportionate and would further undermine media freedom.

"Any further action taken should fall under the responsibility of the Media Council, which will provide an independent mechanism to objectively and neutrally arbitrate complaints against the media, without a political or other external agenda," it said.

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