Freedom Of The Press

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blogtunm.blogspot.com Tun M 1. I am very disturbed with the criminal defamation charges initiated against The Edge’s editor emeritus Encik Azam Aris over two articles published by the publication regarding penny stocks and their manipulation in the Malaysian stock exchange.
2. Firstly, if there is no truth to what had been reported, the person or companies that felt that they had been wronged should have sued the editor and the publication for defamation. That is what in most other cases we have witnessed in disputes involving media reports.
3. Furthermore, the readiness of the public prosecutor’s office to initiate criminal charges against the editor when the publication had alleged that a crime had been committed is quite baffling. By any logic, the investigation should be directed at the people alleged to have committed the crime.
4. Otherwise, let the people accused take civil action against the publication.
5. Having editors charged and handcuffed as common criminals is intimidating and sets back efforts to promote the freedom of the press which the Pakatan Harapan Government had committed itself to during the 22-month of its rule.
6. Such action only serves to further erode our freedom of the press ratings, which had taken a major dip in the past two years.
7. What makes it worse is that the handcuffing of an editor sends a very wrong signal to the nation with regards to our justice system and rule of law when other high-profile criminals who had even been convicted can strut around freely, without handcuffs and even allowed to attend parliamentary sessions.
8. Though the two cases are different, the principle of justice and fairness should apply equally.
9. To my mind, the Attorney General’s Chambers can still redeem itself and remedy the situation. Withdraw the case and let the two parties settle their dispute through civil action.

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