The Star's Editor-In-Chief And Executive Editor Have Been Suspended Over Their Front Page
Meanwhile, the police are investigating The Star for sedition.
By Sadho Ram — 31 May 2017, 01:19 AM
Following the controversy that erupted due to The Star's front page coverage on the first day of Ramadan, two senior editors of the English daily have been suspended
The Star's front page on 27 May had a layout that juxtaposed a photograph of Muslims praying in Putrajaya with an unrelated story of a former Universiti Malaya lecturer who is said to be in line to become the next leader of the Islamic State in the southern Philippines region. The unrelated story was titled 'Malaysian Terrorist Leader.'
The way the front page looked due to the juxtaposition, it led many to believe that The Star was deliberately portraying the followers of Islam as terrorists.
While The Star issued an apology on 28 May for the "oversight", the Home Ministry issued a show-cause letter, giving The Star seven days to explain why action should not be taken against it under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
Following the Ministry's show-cause letter, IGP Khalid announced that the police are investigating The Star for Sedition and for Section 298A of the Penal Code, which refers to causing disharmony, disunity and hatred by words either written or spoken.
The two senior editors suspended are editor-in-chief Datuk Leanne Goh Lee Yen and executive editor Dorairaj Nadason
Both of them will cease to function in their respective roles until further notice, The Star reported, adding that an investigation into the matter will be conducted soon.
It should be noted, though, that Datuk Leanne Goh Lee Yen is currently overseas. According to reports, the suspended editor-in-chief is away in the United States.
Dorairaj, on the other hand, was one of four editors who had been summoned by The Home Ministry on Monday to give their statements. The other three were specialist editor M Shanmugam and executive editors Brian Martin and Rozaid Abdul Rahman.
In the duration for which Leanne Goh and Dorairaj are suspended, editorial operations will be overseen by Star Media Group Managing Director and CEO Wong Chun Wai
Meanwhile, following the suspension news, The Star Online said that the editors involved and the Star Media Group "will cooperate fully with the relevant authorities in investigating the issue, especially the Home Ministry and the police."
Prior to the suspension of its editors, Malay rights group, Perkasa had demanded that The Star should be suspended
The group's women's wing chief, Foziah Nawari, had argued that saying sorry was no longer enough as this was not the first time that The Star had offended Muslims.
She reportedly wanted The Star to be suspended for a year.
"At least if not a year, then through the holy month of Ramadan," Foziah said.
