Malaysiakini’s office was raided over the report that a deputy public prosecutor was transferred out of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) special operations division.
Later today, Criminal Investigation Department chief Datuk Zainuddin Ahmad revealed that police, aided by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) also visited The Star headquarters over a similar report.
At Malaysiakini, a team comprising some 10 officers from the police as well as the MCMC arrived at the news portal’s office in Petaling Jaya at 5pm .
Following discussions, the officers left around 8pm after recording a statement from Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan and seizing a computer.
On Wednesday , MCMC had recorded a statement from Gan and a journalist in connection with the report, which was published on Monday, , citing sources .
Initially, attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali denied that the officer, Ahmad Shazalee Abdul Khairi, was transferred out of MACC.
The Malaysiakini report, which is being investigated under Section 500 of the Penal Code for criminal defamation, made no mention of the officer being transferred out of the commission.
On Wednesday , de facto Law Minister Nancy Shukri confirmed that the DPP was given an internal transfer.
Malaysiakini willing to cooperate
Commenting on the raid, Gan said Malaysiakini is willing to cooperate with the authorities but stressed that the news portal would protect the identity of its sources at all cost.
“As for the article, we stand by it. Furthermore, the law minister's disclosure also confirmed that the report was not erroneous and a transfer did take place,” he said.
“ Malaysiakini will always continue to report the news and views that matter without fear or favour,” Gan added.
Police and MCMC are expected to visit Malaysiakini again on Monday to record the statements from two reporters.
Meanwhile, PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil condemned the raid in a statement released tonight.
"Such an act by MCMC and police is meant to intimidate the news portal and its staff; Malaysiakini is part of the fourth estate, whose solemn duty in the sphere of democracy is to report the news without fear or favour.
"I condemn this raid, and stand with the Malaysiakini team.
Malaysians must not allow the state to continue practising such strong-arm tactics meant to cow members of the media into silence," Fahmi said.
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