Journalists use source stories to seek the truth, not to sabotage the government, attorney-general (AG) Mohamed Apandi Ali has been told.
"The use of confidential sources by the press is not meant to sabotage the government but to pursue truth and hold the powers-that-be to public account," journalist coalition Geramm told the AG in a statement today.
They were reacting to Apandi's plans to strengthen the Official Secrets Act, which could see journalists sentenced to life imprisonment if they refuse to reveal their sources when reporting on leaked documents.
Geramm condemned the proposal as uncalled for and blatant intimidation towards journalists reporting on matters of public interest.
Veteran journalist and Reporters Without Borders' (RSF) Malaysian representative Hata Wahari echoed this sentiment.
"This is another threat to media freedom, and I feel that the AG had used the powers invested in him excessively.
"This proves the AG does not act on any legal grounds, but to protect the interests of a handfull of leaders," Hata told Malaysiakini .
He added that Apandi clearly did not understand how the media works and called on the public and lawmakers to fight against the top lawyer's "threat".
'Protect sources'
Meanwhile, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said clamping down on the media also diminished the public's right to knowledge.
"Protection of sources remains one of the strongest safeguards and principles for not just good journalism ethics, but as a pillar for the public's right to know and to demand accountability from its government,
"It enables the media to play its critical role in exposing wrongdoing and to stimulate public debate on subjects that are paramount to public interest," the group said in a statement.
CIJ said the information leaks that spurred Apandi's proposal, were because the government failed to deal with corruption, prompting civil servants to seek media intervention.
An ‘official secret’ under the OSA include any information, document or material that may be classified as ‘Top Secret’, ‘Secret’, ‘Confidential’ or ‘Restricted’, by designated ministerial officials or designated public officials
The Whistleblower Protection Act 2010 does not protect those who leak state secrets from classified documents.
The current punishment for leaking OSA documents is a jail sentence of between one to seven years.\
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