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Media groups slam A-G’s proposal

PETALING JAYA: Media groups have slammed the proposal by the Attorney-General to increase the punishment under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) as an assault against freedom of expression.

The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said it was appalled by the assault against the role of freedom of expression and information in upholding democracy in Malaysia.

“This is an indicator of a government which is intolerant of criticism and fearful of accountability.

“It is a case of shooting the messenger to distract from the real issue at hand, which is good governance and transparency in a working democracy,” it said in a statement yesterday.

It said that the proposal signals a government which is using all laws at its disposal to restrict and clamp down on people’s right to freedom of expression.

“We wish to remind the Attorney-General that the right to freedom of speech and expression under Article 10 of the Federal Constitution includes the right to information or simply put as the right to know,” said CIJ.

Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm) urged the Attorney-General to drop his intentions to implement harsher punishments against those who leak official secrets and instead strengthen the National Whistle­blower Act.

“Threatening the press who are merely carrying out duties to report on matters of public interest is something uncalled for,” Geramm said in a statement.

The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) general secretary Schave Jerome De Rozario who opposed the proposal, said it contradicts journalism ethics to protect their sources.

“The proposal to amend the OSA to include life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the rotan is cruel and undemocratic,” he said in a statement.

Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali (pic) on Saturday said he is considering increasing the punishment for those who leak official secrets.

He said there were increasing cases of official secrets being leaked and reported by the media quoting sources.

He said the Chambers was looking into amending the Official Secrets Act 1972 to punish those who leak official secrets, including civil servants, the public and media practitioners who refused to disclose their sources.

Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IoJ) said that while it did not condone any act that would compromise the proper functioning of the Government, it was, nevertheless, apprehensive of any attempt to increase punitive measures against whistleblowers.-thestar

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