It is bewildering that Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil claims to respect the media’s right to protect whistleblower information.
This is because, in the same breath, he asked the media to cooperate with police in their investigations into their sources, as “existing laws still apply”.
Fahmi’s statement was made in connection with a police probe into a Malaysiakini news report that the federal police are planning a major reshuffle of their top leadership.
The police have dismissed the report of a major reshuffle – which, one would think, should have been the end of the story. Instead, they are pursuing the probe by applying Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.
However, disclosing sources violates the ethical standards of journalism. These ethics require journalists to protect the privacy of their sources, who may provide sensitive information on condition their identities are not revealed.
Whistleblowers would be deterred if their cover is no longer guaranteed.
To uphold press freedom, Aliran calls on the federal government to cease the probe into the news portal. Instead, the authorities should guarantee the protection of whistleblowers.
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Aliran executive committee
8 August 2024
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
