NUJ condemns arrest of journalist for sedition

The media fraternity condemns the arrest of an online news portal journalist under the Sedition Act 1948 and views the action as interfering with press freedom.

The National Union of Journalists Peninsular Malaysia (NUJ) president Chin Sung Chew said Malaysiakini journalist Susan Loone was merely doing her job, and added that the action did not augur well with the Govern­ment’s promise to allow the Malaysian media to operate freely without fear.

“Even though the police has the right to question anyone through complaints made by certain NGOs, we however strongly feel that the Sedition Act had been wrongly applied in Loone’s case and that the police should issue an apology to her for the trauma and inconveniences caused to her and her family.

“To abuse the Act by intimidating the media has never been accepted by the local media nor been supported by the general public.

“The union believes police action, by invoking the Sedition Act to investigate a journalist, is regarded as a means to intimidate and interfere with press freedom,” said Chin in a statement yesterday.

He added that the NUJ believes all journalists had the right to interview anyone to share insight into issues with the public’s interest at hand, to convey public opinion and report what is given by the interviewees.

Chin said that the NUJ would also issue a letter to Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on this matter.

Loone, a journalist based in Penang, was arrested by the police under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act on Thursday afternoon after having her statement recorded over an allegedly seditious article which was published on Monday.

Loone’s article had quoted Penang Voluntary Patrol commander Phee Boon Poh, saying that he was “treated like a criminal” during police questioning several days ago.

She was released on police bail at 11.45pm on Thursday after spending nine hours at the police headquarters.

Loone said that she was treated well by the police as they had constantly asked about her well being.