Hands off the journalists, please

Many say the numerous arrests going on in the country, with the most recent being the five editors and top executives from The Malaysian Insider and The Edge Media Group, are an act of intimidation and scare tactic.

It could be working because I know fellow journalists who have said to me that they now have to watch what they report and write about because they feel that they could be arrested, too.

To be honest, I myself have entertained the thought that I need to be careful of what I write and how I express my opinion, lest it should lead me in the lock-up as well.

Somehow, when I saw my friend Jahabar Sadiq, the CEO of The Malaysian Insider, in handcuffs with hands behind the back being led by police in the Dang Wangi police station, it hit me.

It hit me that if it could happen to him, then it could happen to me and any of the journalists in Malaysia as well. And to be totally honest, it scared me.

And that fear caused me to entertain the thought that I needed to be careful. The intimidation and scare tactic was slowly taking effect.

But then I quickly caught myself and realised that I have always been careful about what I wrote and reported ever since I became a journalist about 15 years ago.

I have always been careful to make sure that what I write and report about has always been the truth and never with the intention to defame people or organisations with false facts.

I have always been careful to make sure that what I write and report about has always been with the best interest of my readers and fellow Malaysians.

I have always been careful to ensure that what I write and report about has always been with the intention to make this country a better place for my family, especially my daughter.

I have always been careful to make sure that what I write and report about has never been dishonest because of being influenced or being intimidated by others.

But what I will never do is to be bullied and cowed into being fearful of the things I write. Basically, I will always do my best to honour the profession of journalism.

Because if I, and we, as journalists, didn't do that, then it would be a disrespect for the five journalists and all other journalists who believe in the profession and its purpose. – April 3, 2015.

* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.