Cease probe into podcasters, says Hakam

 The National Human Rights Society says the criminal justice system should not become a mechanism to restrict discussions of legitimate public interest.

Bryan Kong, host of the ‘Let’s Get It’ podcast, and Shamsul Saad of the ‘The Gut Shot’ podcast were arrested on Aug 6 after police launched an investigation into Episode 141 of Kong’s podcast.

PETALING JAYA:

A rights group has called for the police to cease investigations into podcasters Bryan Kong and Shamsul Saad, who were recently arrested over an episode that reportedly discussed issues relating to race.

The National Human Rights Society (Hakam) said continuing to pursue individuals for their participation in public discourse, when clear evidence of a criminal offence is absent, would further undermine the government’s commitment to freedom of expression.

Hakam pointed out that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim himself described media freedom as “one of the main pillars of democratic practice” to be upheld and strengthened.

“Yet, the arrest and detention of individuals involved in producing and facilitating public discussion appear to be at odds with these commitments,” Hakam said in a statement.

“Such actions risk creating a disconnect between the government’s rhetoric on media freedom and the lived reality of those exercising that freedom.

“If the investigation remains ongoing, Hakam calls upon the authorities to bring it to an immediate close and take no further action against the two producers,” it said.

Hakam says the criminal justice system should not become a mechanism for discouraging Malaysians from discussing matters of legitimate public interest, even if it is related to race, religion, politics or other sensitive subjects.

The group also expressed concerns that the arrest of individuals involved in producing and facilitating public discussion can have a chilling effect extending far beyond the individuals concerned.

“It may cause journalists, podcasters, ordinary members of the public and others to self-censor out of fear that expressing an unpopular or controversial opinion could result in police investigation, arrest or detention,” it said.

Bryan Kong, host of the “Let’s Get It” podcast, and Shamsul Saad of the “The Gut Shot” podcast were arrested on Aug 6 after police launched an investigation into Episode 141 of Kong’s podcast.

Klang Utara police chief Ramsay Embol said the pair were arrested over a video clip of the two men discussing secularism and liberalism.

However, Kong maintained that he had done nothing wrong and said he wanted to continue giving people from different political backgrounds and parties a platform to speak. - FMT