Enforce the law judiciously and reasonably

(From left) Lawyer Syahredzan Johan, The Malaysian Insider Bahasa news editor Amin Iskandar, managing editor Lionel Morais, and features and analysis editor Zulkifli Sulong seen outside the Dangi Wangi police station yesterday. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Mukhriz Hazim, April 1, 2015.

The Edge Media Group is deeply troubled over the recent arrests of five senior members of its team, including group chief executive officer Ho Kay Tat.

On March 30, The Malaysian Insider’s managing editor Lionel Morais, its Bahasa news editor Amin Iskandar and features and analysis editor Zulkifli Sulong were detained at our office in Mutiara Damansara over an article which appeared in The Malaysian Insider on March 25.

The article was a report that the Conference of Rulers had rejected a proposal to amend a federal law that would pave the way for hudud to be enforced in Kelantan.

They were arrested by a police team which had accompanied Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) officers acting on a police report lodged by an official of the Conference of Rulers on March 26 and an MCMC complaint lodged by Umno Youth on March 27.

Yesterday, Ho, who is also publisher of The Edge Media Group which owns The Malaysian Insider, was arrested along with The Malaysian Insider chief executive officer and editor Jahabar Sadiq.

They were detained at the Dang Wangi police station in Kuala Lumpur where they had been summoned to give a statement, as well as to check on the welfare of the three editors arrested the day before.

While the management of The Edge Media Group totally supports upholding the rule of law, we also believe that the law should be enforced judiciously and reasonably.

We have been fully cooperating with the police on this matter as well as on previous issues.

The management had not obstructed the police or MCMC from doing their work although their visit at 5.30pm was at a crucial time for newsroom operations.

Ho and Jahabar had presented themselves to the police voluntarily, believing that they were there for their statements to be recorded.

All five executives had been cooperating fully with the authorities and were prepared to make themselves available at all times, hence we view their arrests as excessive, unnecessary and inconsistent with the moderate policies promised by the present administration.

We believe there are many other avenues to address disputes, conflicts or inaccuracies in news reports without having to resort to criminal prosecution.

While the management is thankful for the release of Morais, Amin and Zulkifli last night and that they were treated well while in police custody, we also call for Ho’s and Jahabar’s immediate release.

Meanwhile, we at The Edge Media Group would like to thank well-wishers who include our readers, fellow members of the media fraternity, members of parliament and civil society for their support and encouragement.

We strive to continue to report fairly and accurately without fear or favour.

- TMI