Saifuddin slams racist attack on journalist

Communication and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah has slammed the act of netizens targeting a Malaysiakini journalist on social media for reporting on the Kelantan logging issue.

Taking to Twitter, he said the attack or threat against a journalist is unacceptable.

"I criticise the racist attack against a Malaysiakini journalist on social media. Any intimidation or attack against journalist who is performing his or her duty is totally unacceptable," Saifuddin (photo) said.

The Bersatu minister was commenting on a barrage of personal attacks against Malaysiakini reporter Kow Gah Chie, who was ridiculed on Facebook over a report on March 11 that allegedly quoted Environment Minister Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man as having defended logging activities in Kelantan.

On March 12, a Facebook post implied that the Malaysiakini article had been fabricated as it was not asked during Tuan Ibrahim's press conference the day before, which had been streamed live.

The ministry subsequently claimed that the Malaysiakini article was inaccurate, but Malaysiakini stood by its report which was based on a doorstop interview after Tuan Ibrahim's clock-in ceremony and press conference in Putrajaya.

Yesterday, Tuan Ibrahim said he disagreed with a personal attack against journalist.

Meanwhile, in a joint statement today, Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) and rights group Article 19 urged the government and social media platforms such as Facebook to work together to identify measures to protect journalists and combat online hate speech.

The rights groups also stated that timely action by social media platforms was essential in curbing online abuse such as doxing and trolling. - Mkini