PUTRAJAYA – Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil advised media personnel who are facing police investigations – which could potentially include pressure to reveal unnamed sources – to fully cooperate with authorities.
He said that while his ministry respects the media’s right to protect the identity of its sources or whistleblowers, it is important to comply with existing laws.
“If a police report has been made, at this time those involved in the investigation should cooperate with police, who will conduct their probe based on current legislation.
“My recommendation is for (members of the media under investigation) to provide (police with) good cooperation,” the minister, who is also the government’s spokesman, said at a press conference here today.
Fahmi said this in response to a question about how the media should handle police investigations aimed at uncovering its sources, despite the Malaysian Code of Ethics for Journalists emphasising the importance of protecting source confidentiality and privacy.
Police are investigating an online news portal over a report claiming the impending transfers of several high-ranking officers out of the force to agencies under the Home Ministry.
The probe follows one report lodged over the matter, with investigations conducted under Section 505 of the Penal Code on public mischief and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998 for improper use of network facilities.
The news site, citing sources, named Deputy Inspector-General of Police Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and Bukit Aman criminal investigation department director Datuk Seri Mohd Shuhaily Mohd Zain among the senior officers slated to be transferred to other agencies under the Home Ministry.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain, who the report stated did not respond to requests for insight, subsequently dismissed the article as “fake news”.
Razarudin also told Scoop he had instructed the police secretary to summon the reporters responsible for the story. – August 7, 2024