“At the same time, we have mentioned that, in this instance, cooperation with the police is necessary. This is because, according to the regulations, if there is a police report, the police must investigate.” - Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil flagging off Kembara Merdeka 2024 convoy participants in Kuala Lumpur on Aug 10.
These remarks were made in reference to police investigations into three Malaysiakini journalists over an article quoting sources of a reshuffle of some of Bukit Aman’s top-ranking officers.
Fahmi (above) has defended his stance on police having the right to probe, likening it to journalists having the right to write news reports.
Supposing, I want to be a bit cheeky and challenge the minister’s claim. Of course, I can lodge a police report stating that the minister made a misleading statement. The police will have to accept my report, but will it be investigated? Will it be worth the time, effort and money spent?
I know that not all police reports are investigated. If they are, then the entire police force will be investigating reports instead of fighting crime.
Some are classified immediately as “no further action (NFA)” or “refer to magistrate (RTM)”, but there have been no figures as to what percentage of reports are investigated.
The police report or “Borang 55” has become a tool for all and sundry, sometimes unwittingly, to serve their purpose.
Sometimes, matters not under the police force’s purview are reported, and in some cases, the reports are false. But understandably, the police cannot refuse to accept any report - this is the rule of the land.
When police reports are made by two people on different issues, shouldn’t both be investigated instead of one getting priority?
All sorts of reasons
Hundreds of police reports are made in police stations in the Klang Valley every day. Some are made because of government requirements; others are made for selfish reasons by those who think a police report would exonerate them.
There are also those who make reports and then pose outside police stations for their two minutes of fame, which does not help when the police want to do discreet investigations before the perpetrators destroy evidence or threaten witnesses.
Then, there’s Rani Kulop, who has the dubious honour of having filed over 1,000 reports.
The head of the right-wing Malay group Martabat Jalinan Muhibbah Malaysia (MJMM) told Sinar Harian that lodging police reports had become almost a “national duty” for him, as he was called upon to do so to “save the country” from seditious and evil elements.
Then there are politicians who take their entourage to make police reports to score Brownie points as defenders of their race and religion.
Fahmi affirmed that the published journalism code of ethics provided journalists with the right to protect the confidentiality of their sources.
So, why the investigations?
Two months ago, Malaysiakini columnist Andrew Sia was investigated for using the word “apartheid” in one of his commentaries.
I am sorry to say that the people who made the police reports, mostly politicians, did not know the complexities of the English language or the multiple meanings of the word.
Yet, several valuable man-hours were spent pursuing the case, knowing well that it was an exercise in futility.
Before that, the MACC lodged a police report against journalist/researcher Lalitha Kunaratnam over her alleged false employment status.
It has since been categorised as “NFA” by Bukit Aman.
What is there to investigate, IGP?
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain has described the Malaysiakini report as “untrue” as the federal police headquarters has not issued an official statement on the matter.
Shouldn’t that be the end of the matter? Why a police report?
Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Mohd Isa said a Bukit Aman officer lodged the report to facilitate further investigations, hence the present situation where the three journalists had their statements recorded.
What is there to investigate? The journalists are within their right not to reveal their sources, and this has been acknowledged.
What has been achieved? The transfers have been denied and the police have not issued a statement.
“The police urge all quarters not to quote unofficial sources particularly when involving the security forces and government agencies,” Razarudin said in a statement.
The report has not jeopardised or exposed weaknesses in the country’s security. It was an innocuous report on the transfer of senior officers, period.
Let me reiterate that journalists, like other citizens, are not above the law. We ask for no special favours but to allow us to operate in our (already confined) space without harassment or hindrance. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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