Cops probing Mkini, question journalist on migrant worker system report

Police are investigating Malaysiakini over an article concerning a proposed migrant worker recruitment system, with one of its journalists called in to give a statement.

In an official letter, Sepang district police headquarters stated that the investigation is being conducted under Section 203A of the Penal Code for unauthorised disclosure of information and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act for improper use of network facilities or services.

Police questioned senior journalist B Nantha Kumar yesterday morning as a witness. His statement was recorded for one and a half hours.

The investigation concerned a report by Nantha on March 27, regarding a purported government proposal for a new digital system to manage migrant workers, which industry sources claim will be called The Universal Recruitment Advance Platform (Turap).

Sources said the proposal is to improve the recruitment ecosystem, which is mired in high costs and poor worker welfare.

However, industry players are sceptical about whether the new system will bring genuine changes or merely add another layer to the existing systems.

The Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia (Papa), which represents over 700 private employment agencies, voiced concerns over the proposed end-to-end recruitment process if the licensed agencies are sidelined.

Sepang deputy district police chief Mior Nor Azuan Alias said the probe was initiated after a police report was lodged.

Media groups stress press freedom

Responding to the investigation, Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) stressed that any probe involving media organisations and journalists must uphold global principles on press freedom.

As groups involved in the Malaysian Media Council (MMC), Geramm and NUJM also called for formal cooperation to be established with enforcement agencies, particularly the police and the MCMC.

“We believe that the role of the MMC as an ethics-based self-regulatory body is crucial in protecting media organisations, journalists, and news sources from criminalisation by any party,” they said in a joint statement today.

“A series of recent investigations underscores the need for guarantees to protect the rights of individuals and journalists during investigations, including the right to legal counsel and the right to remain silent to safeguard themselves or their sources of information.”

On Monday, Malaysiakini reported that journalist Kalidas Subramaniom, from the Tamil news portal Thinathanti, was detained at the Kulim district police headquarters after recording his statement regarding an alleged March 26 trespassing incident at the Kulim Hi-Tech Park.

Kalidas was said to have been at the location together with several media practitioners, activists, and NGO representatives to cover allegations involving more than 300 undocumented migrants working without valid permits.

He has since been released on police bail.

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