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Malaysia police question Al Jazeera journalists over documentary
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Australian Al Jazeera journalists, reporter/senior producer Drew Ambrose (left), executive producer Sharon Roobol (3rd right) and cameraman Craig Hansen (2nd right), involved in a documentary about the arrests of undocumented migrants arrive at the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur on Friday. - Malaysian police said on Thursday they are investigating an Al Jazeera documentary about the arrests of undocumented migrants during the coronavirus lockdown after officials denounced it for damaging the country's image. (AFP/Mohd Rasfan )
M
alaysian police Friday questioned five Australian journalists from Al Jazeera over a documentary about the plight of migrants which authorities have denounced as inaccurate, as the broadcaster expressed shock at the probe.
The investigation into the Qatar-based network's program has added to concerns about a widening media crackdown in Malaysia after a scandal-plagued party came to power earlier this year.
In addition to the Al Jazeera case, the head of a leading news portal has been accused of contempt of court while a health news site's editor is being probed over an article.
The documentary, "Locked Up in Malaysia's Lockdown", looked at the detention of undocumented foreigners during a coronavirus lockdown, as well as the plight of other members of the migrant community.
But the government decried it as misleading and inaccurate, and police are now investigating the broadcaster for breaking laws against sedition, defamation and transmitting offensive content.
On Friday six Al Jazeera staff members were called in for questioning by police in Kuala Lumpur over the documentary made for "101 East", a weekly show featuring in-depth investigations.
Five of the six are Australian, according to Australian union the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance.
The staff -- including a bureau chief, correspondent, an executive producer, a producer and a cameraman -- were accompanied by their lawyers as they arrived at the station, where a media scrum was waiting.
Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik told reporters that the journalists "refute all the charges".
"There was no intent by Al Jazeera to create any mischief," he said.
'Journalism is not a crime'
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed it was providing assistance to a number of Australians in Kuala Lumpur.
Ahead of the questioning, Al Jazeera said it was "shocked" by Malaysia's response to the documentary, broadcast on July 3, and it stood by the "professionalism, quality and impartiality of its journalism".
"Charging journalists for doing their jobs is not the action of a democracy that values free speech," it said. "Journalism is not a crime."
Al Jazeera's English-language channel has its Asian base in Kuala Lumpur.
The International Federation of Journalists, which represents media unions worldwide, said it "deeply regrets" Malaysian authorities using tough laws against transmitting offensive content "to silence and intimidate journalists".
The show sparked a backlash online, and the defense minister demanded an apology from the broadcaster.
Authorities said the arrests in May of undocumented migrants was necessary to protect the public, although rights groups raised concern that placing them in detention centers could increase the risk of coronavirus infection.
Malaysia is home to large numbers of migrants from poorer countries -- including Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanmar -- who work in industries ranging from manufacturing to agriculture.
Concern has been growing about worsening freedom of expression in Malaysia since a reformist government collapsed in February and a coalition headed by a scandal-plagued party seized power.
One of the country's leading independent news portals, Malaysiakini, faces contempt of court proceedings next week over reader comments on its site that were critical of the judiciary.
