Police begin investigations into Al Jazeera report

Police reports against Al Jazeera were lodged by a woman and the Immigration Department.

KUALA LUMPUR: Police have begun an investigation into satellite broadcaster Al Jazeera’s report on illegal immigrants after a complaint that the reports was an alleged attempt to tarnish Malaysia’s image.

A complaint was filed by the Immigration Department. A similar report was lodged by a woman in Putrajaya at about 9am today, federal CID deputy director Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said.

The woman complainant said she made a report after watching the documentary video on You Tube. Her statement had been taken by police, Mior Faridalathrash said.

Separately, the Immigration Department issued a warning that foreigners living in Malaysia on long-term passes were at risk of their passes being revoked if they made remarks that damaged Malaysia’s image.

Al Jazeera had broadcast a 25-minute report entitled “Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown” on its 101 East programme on Friday about the treatment of illegal immigrants when Malaysia took steps to tackle Covid-19.

The Inspector-General of Police, Abdul Hamid Bador, has said the report alleged that Malaysia discriminated against illegal immigrants and was inaccurate. Senior minister for security Ismail Sabri Yaakob has called on Al Jazeera to apologise to Malaysians. - FMT