Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy says the blocking of any news portal must only be permitted under alarming circumstances and after thorough investigations by relevant authorities have been conducted. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 28, 2016.Human rights group Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) wants The Malaysian Insider website unblocked by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as Putrajaya had acted too hastily, without proper investigation before taking action against the news portal.
Suaram executive director Sevan Doraisamy said the swiftness in which MCMC blocked The Malaysian Insider implied that it did not conduct any investigation into the matter and made an arbitrary decision.
"If any of the allegations reported by The Malaysian Insider is false as alleged by MCMC, actions against the portal should be by the aggrieved parties and not the government of Malaysia.
"On this note, Suaram calls for the unblocking of The Malaysian Insider and demand that investigations under Section 124(I) be stopped immediately," he said in a statement today.
He said considering the importance of independent media and news reports, editors and officers of any news or media group should not be subjected to investigation under security laws for the publication of news articles.
"The blocking of any website should only be permitted under the direst of circumstances and must only take place after thorough and transparent investigation by relevant authorities.
"The use of Section 124(I) of the Penal Code should not and must not be interpreted and used as a law to suppress the media.
"The invocation of Section 124(I) in this context can only be seen as a blatant act of intimidation and a direct threat against media and news groups with detention without trial."
He said the country would be under scrutiny in the upcoming Human Rights Council sitting, of which Malaysia is a member.
The blocking of The Malaysian Insider and investigations against its editors and officers would result in a failure by the government to fulfill the recommendations adopted in the Universal Periodic Review and undermines Malaysia's standing and image in the international community, he said.
"Putrajaya must take proactive steps to fulfil its international obligations and maintain a positive image in the international community," he said. – February 28, 2016.
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