M'sian Journalist Named 'Info Hero' By International NGO While Under Police Investigation
She is still facing a possible two-year jail sentence for her report.
By Alyssa Pong — 17 Jun 2020, 06:45 PM
On 15 June, Kuala Lumpur correspondent for South China Morning Post (SCMP) Tashny Sukumaran was named an 'Information Hero' by Reporters Without Borders (RSF)
The non-governmental watchdog recently published a list of journalists, whistleblowers, and media outlets worldwide who have helped circulate reliable and important information during the pandemic.
Tashny joins 29 other coronavirus 'Information Heroes' for her report on the migrant raids and mass arrests of refugees in areas where the Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO) was being enforced last month.
The reporter was first brought into questioning by local authorities on 6 May, World Press Freedom Day
Five days after her article was published, Tashny was brought to police headquarters in Bukit Aman for questioning.
According to police officials, Tashny is being investigated under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the 1998 Communications and Multimedia Act.
She is now facing a possible two-year jail sentence for "intentional insult with intent to provoke a breach of peace" and "improper use of network facilities and network service".
Tashny came under investigation even after there were orders not to
On 3 May, Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said in a tweet, "I have stated to TV3 this morning that I have directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to not act against you. I may not like your piece but I defend your right to write it."
However, Tashny fired back at the minister saying, "I appreciate your gesture, but it doesn’t change the fact that I am still being harassed by the police for doing my job as a reporter."
The SCMP correspondent added that she recognised the privilege she had as someone with access to lawyers and a public platform, but was concerned that the same Penal Code and Communications and Multimedia Act regulations could be used against those without the same privileges.
Malaysia currently ranks 101st out of 180 countries on RSF's World Press Freedom Index
The index is an annual list of countries ranked by RSF based on the degree of freedom journalists, media organisations, and netizens can exercise, and the efforts made by authorities to respect that freedom.
RSF Asia-Pacific head Daniel Bastard pointed out, "Malaysia rose more than any other country in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index, mainly thanks to a sharp improvement in the climate of censorship and self-censorship."
Malaysia has moved 22 places higher on the index than in 2019.
However, RSF warns that the country's position could fall should cases like Tashny's persist.
