Journalists must not be treated as criminals for reporting public interest issues

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By DayakDaily Team

KUCHING, April 28: Journalists should not be treated as though they have committed a criminal offence simply for reporting on issues that may be uncomfortable to certain parties, the Malaysian Media Council (MMM) said, expressing serious concern over recent enforcement actions involving Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar.

In a statement today, MMM said it views with grave concern reports that the journalist’s residence was searched by police in connection with his reporting on a proposed foreign worker recruitment system.

The development comes after Nantha had previously been investigated and called in to provide a statement under Section 203A of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act in relation to the same subject matter.

“MMM respects the authority of enforcement agencies to conduct investigations. However, when repeated enforcement actions are taken against a journalist in relation to reporting on matters of public interest, it raises serious concerns about the chilling effect on journalistic work, particularly investigative reporting

“Issues relating to foreign workers, the governance of recruitment systems, industry costs, and the welfare of migrant workers are matters of public interest. Journalists should not be treated as though they have committed a criminal offence simply for reporting on issues that may be uncomfortable to certain parties,” MMM said.

The council also noted that Nantha has previously faced action linked to his reporting on migrant worker syndicates, including a 2025 case that drew concern from media organisations over increasing pressure on investigative reporting in Malaysia.

MMM emphasised that any disputes over published news content should first be addressed through established media accountability mechanisms, including the right of reply, corrections, internal complaints procedures, and self-regulatory channels, rather than immediate resort to criminal investigations or actions that could be perceived as intimidation.

With World Press Freedom Day approaching on May 3, MMM said the incident serves as an important reminder that commitments to media freedom must go beyond official statements or commemorative events.

“Commitment to media freedom must be reflected in how a country treats journalists in the course of their duties, particularly when reporting on matters of public interest,” it said.

MMM urged the police and all enforcement agencies to avoid approaches that may place undue pressure on journalists performing their legitimate professional roles.

It also called for investigations to be conducted in a proportionate and transparent manner, with respect for the protection of journalistic sources and clear justification for any search operations involving media personnel.

The council reiterated that it stands ready to serve as an institutional platform for the resolution of media-related disputes.

“Media freedom is not a licence to act without responsibility, but neither should responsibility be used as a pretext to criminalise journalism,” MMM said. — DayakDaily