Journo probed over report of raid on illegals
KUALA LUMPUR: Police are investigating a South China Morning
Post correspondent over her report on immigration raids carried out at Covid-19 red zones here on Friday.
Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department Director Datuk Huzir Mohamed said police were investigating SCMP news correspondent Tashny Sukumaran, who wrote the article.
“We will probe into the matter. In fact, we have opened an investigation paper against her,” Huzir said in a press conference yesterday.
Yesterday, Tashny posted on Twitter that she was called by police to give her statement over her report, which was about immigration raids in three buildings in the downtown area here which were Covid-19 red zones. These ares were placed under Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
“Happy World Press Freedom Day! I have been summoned to Bukit Aman this Wednesday for questioning over my reporting of the immigration raid on the downtown Kuala Lumpur red zone on #MayDay (May 1).
“According to the police, I am being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.”
Section 504 of the Penal Code is for intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of the peace. Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act is for improper use of network facilities or network service.
Her article titled, “Coronavirus: hundreds arrested as Malaysia cracks down on migrants in Covid-19 red zones”, which she wrote with a colleague, quoted human rights activists who said the raids prevented illegal immigrants from coming out to be properly tested for Covid-19, as they feared being deported.
The activists questioned the need for raids as the Malaysian government had previously guaranteed that no action would be taken against those without documents throughout the exercise to conduct Covid-19 tests.
When responding to criticisim from Amnesty International and the Human Rights Commission of Malaysia over the same issue, Defence Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said the government had a right to take action against immigrants living illegally in the country without valid documents.
He said the government could not allow illegal immigrants to roam freely even if they had previously completed their quarantine in areas placed under the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO).
“Just imagine, where will they (illegal immigrants) go once the EMCO ends?”
Meanwhile, the G25, a group of influential Malays, urged the government to reconsider the high-handed style of raids and mass arrests involving undocumented foreigners.
“The government is facing an uphill task to determine the extent of the spread among foreign workers, especially those who are undocumented and hiding from authorities.
“However, using a high-handed style to identify Covid-19 positive cases among illegals at the moment would only deter them from coming forward to get tested.”