Sin Chew suspends two editors over flag blunder

Summary

• Sin Chew Daily suspends two senior editors pending an investigation into the publication of a Jalur Gemilang illustration missing the crescent moon.

• The paper has apologised, issued a corrected version, and pledged procedural reforms, including reviewing its use of AI.

• Authorities are investigating the case under media and national symbols laws, despite calls for restraint from civil society groups.

Sin Chew Daily has suspended two of its editors pending investigations over a blunder in printing an illustration that featured the Jalur Gemilang.

The two are executive editor-in-chief Chan Aun Kuang and the daily’s deputy chief sub-editor Tsai Shwu San.

“The management of Sin Chew Daily announced that this decision takes effect immediately and will remain in place until the investigation is concluded,” the Chinese-language newspaper announced today.

On Tuesday, the newspaper published an illustration of a jong on its front page that carried the flags of Malaysia and China, in conjunction with Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.

However, the Malaysian flag was missing its crescent moon, which led to backlash.

Sin Chew had since apologised for the blunder and published a corrected version of the illustration in the next day’s edition. It blamed the mistake on a technical error.

It has vowed to conduct a thorough review and improvement of its procedures, including its use of artificial intelligence, and take disciplinary action against its staff.

Cops, Home Ministry probing case

The police and Home Ministry have both launched investigations against the daily under Section 3(1)(c) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Earlier today, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the police have questioned the deputy chief sub-editor who designed the illustration, and the chief editor who approved it.

The investigations came despite calls from civil society groups to refrain from resorting to heavy-handed measures and outdated laws in holding Sin Chew accountable for its mistake.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said that the Media Council would be the best platform to handle such cases once it has been formed.

“But until then, the (existing) processes will continue,” he said.

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Flag fiasco: Cops to quiz Sin Chew Daily's chief editor, graphic designer today

COMMENT | Kill Sin Chew for its honest mistake?