Media Groups Call For Better Protection Of Whistleblower Journalists

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Lalitha Kunaratnam speaking at a community event at Taman Tun Dr Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, in May 2019. (Lalitha Kunaratnam Facebook pic)PETALING JAYA: Two media groups have highlighted the government’s failure to adequately protect investigative journalists, following legal action against a reporter over articles linking the head of the MACC to purported share purchases.
The Centre for Independent Journalism and Gerakan Media Merdeka said investigative journalist Lalitha Kunaratnam had provided fact-based reports that raised a legitimate question in the public’s interests.
However, the defamation suit by MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki called into question the role of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the government in eliminating corruption in the country.
The two groups said MACC and the government should have instead investigated the allegations “and not the reporter”
Lalitha Kunaratnam.“The state has not only failed in addressing the alleged corruption, but it also failed in providing adequate protection to an investigative journalist who was playing the role of a whistleblower too,” they said in a joint statement.
They said the Whistleblowers Act 2010 must be reviewed and its scope of protection expanded and strengthened.
They called for Azam to withdraw his letter of demand and stop the harassment against the journalist. Lalitha has been asked to issue a public apology within 14 days, delete the articles about Azam and pay RM10 million in damages for tarnishing his reputation.
Azam’s lawyers said if she failed to comply, they would go ahead with legal proceedings for defamation.
Lalitha’s articles were published by the Independent News Service website in December.
On Wednesday, the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board cleared Azam of any wrongdoing over his purchase and ownership of corporate shares in 2015. Azam had revealed that he had willingly allowed his younger brother to use his trading account.
This evening, the home ministry said police will investigate Azam after reports were lodged against him. - FMT

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