'RM100k fine for dailies not excessive, to reinforce responsibility'

Summary

• PKR’s Asheeq Ali defended the RM100,000 fines imposed on Sin Chew Daily and Sinar Harian, arguing they were justified to uphold journalistic ethics and accountability.

• He stresses that the action was taken through due legal process, framing the penalties as preventive measures rather than attacks on press freedom.

• The Malaysian Media Council (MMC) and journalism laureate Johan Jaafar had however expressed concerns over the fine, seen as excessive.

The recent RM100,000 fine imposed on Sin Chew Media Corporation Berhad and Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd by the MCMC is not excessive but rather to reinforce media responsibility, a PKR leader said today.

Batu PKR division chief and lawyer, Asheeq Ali Sethi Alivi, said that while it is understandable to be concerned about anything that might appear to threaten media freedom, it is crucial to examine this matter from a professional perspective, focusing on journalistic ethics and accountability.

In a statement today, he said that arguments that such an action by the MCMC is dangerous miss the distinction between freedom of expression and a failure to uphold professional standards.

Asheeq stressed that freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy, but it never implies the freedom to disseminate false or damaging information without consequence.

“For media organisations that wield immense influence over public opinion, this freedom comes with a significant and non-negotiable responsibility: to be accurate, fair, and accountable.

"In the case of Sin Chew Daily, the justification that the error was a result of using artificial intelligence (AI) is not a valid defence. While AI offers powerful advantages, it demands an even higher degree of human vigilance. The primary responsibility of a media organisation is to ensure all published content is meticulously vetted.

"The mistake of publishing an illustration of the Jalur Gemilang with missing elements is a serious act of negligence against a national symbol of sovereignty. Any media company with decades of experience should have rigorous editing and quality control processes to prevent such a blunder.

“This failure points to a fundamental weakness in editorial procedures that cannot be taken lightly," Asheeq said.

He further opined that if a fine for a media outlet is considered dangerous, then the Sin Chew flag gaffe "is a national disaster."

Critical error

Asheeq added that for Sinar Harian, the reported error was even more critical, as it had the potential to damage an individual's reputation and compromise public trust in national institutions.

"The mistake of stating that the inspector-general of police was a member of a political party is far from a minor oversight.

“It is an act of false reporting that could tarnish the image and credibility of a key figure in the nation's security apparatus. If left unaddressed, such misinformation could sow public doubt and erode trust in the authorities.

"As for Sinar's case, falsely accusing someone is far more dangerous than the fine imposed! This is particularly true when it involves the country's top police officer.

“Falsely linking him with a political party is more ‘dangerous’ as this could lead to major misconceptions and erode public trust in his neutrality and professionalism," he added.

Asheeq threw support behind the MCMC’s action as not a subjective act of punishment but a legal one, undertaken in accordance with the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

"The fact that MCMC sought and obtained approval from the Attorney General's Chambers (AGC) underscores that this decision was made through due legal process.

"The hefty fines, while perhaps seen as severe, should be viewed as a necessary preventive measure," he added.

Debate nothing new

Asheeq said that the debate over media accountability in Malaysia is far from new, as for decades, journalists have worked under legal and political pressures that often restricted press freedom.

He reminded that the Internal Security Act (ISA), for instance, was used to detain not only political critics but also members of the media for their views or reporting.

"This historical context highlights the delicate balance between a government's right to maintain public order and a media's responsibility to report freely and accurately," he added.

Yesterday, the MCMC announced that it has imposed RM100,000 fines against the publishers of Sin Chew and Sinar Harian following authorisation from the AGC.

Both publishers were investigated under Section 233 (1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 and charged under Section 243 of the same law.

For Sin Chew, this was allegedly for publishing an illustration featuring a Jalur Gemilang that was incomplete.

For Karangkraf, its daily Sinar Harian reportedly published an infographic that erroneously stated that Inspector-General of Police Khalid Ismail was a PKR member.

The Malaysian Media Council (MMC), in a swift response, expressed concern over the move, stating that the penalties imposed were “excessive”.

In a statement yesterday, national journalism laureate Johan Jaafar also condemned the RM100,000 fine imposed.

He called the MCMC’s actions “unprecedented and dangerous” and can be seen as a bid to undermine the principles of free press and free speech in Malaysia.

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