AN MCA leader said Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM) have raised a pertinent point on the need to safeguard the confidentiality of journalists’ sources.
According to the party’s information chief Chan Quin Er, it is important that the government contributes towards the media corp upholding integrity in journalism for the broader interest of the public, given that Pakatan Harapan came into power twice on exhortations to protect press freedom.
“The Malaysian Journalist Code of Ethics stresses the critical need to protect sources, a principle that ensures the media can effectively serve as a check on power and a voice for all sectors of society,” she said in a statement on Friday (Aug 9).
“However, certain episodes in recent days, in particular the police probing Malaysiakini, or Malaysia plummeting 37 notches in the World Press Freedom Index to the 107th spot from the 73rd last year or mandating licensing for social media platforms with more than 8 million registered users, suggest a troubling shift away from the promises Pakatan bandied, while sacrificing democratic principles and press freedoms.
“This raising serious concerns about the current trajectory of the Malaysian Madani government.”
Chan further called for the government to reaffirm its dedication to democratic values by safeguarding journalistic independence and respecting the confidentiality of sources.
“Being a channel of communication for various levels in society relies on protection of their sources,” she reasoned.
“Once these safeguards are lost, journalists may lose their capacity as the Fourth Estate to report on public interest issues, thereby undermining democratic processes, transparency and holding those in power accountable.”
Chan stressed that compromising journalistic confidentiality not only contradicts the values of openness and freedom but also risks reinforcing draconian practices that stifle independent reporting.
She said this shift away from democratic norms calls into question the government’s commitment to the very principles it purports to uphold.
“Revealing sources can deter whistleblowers and informants from coming forward with critical information as they fear retaliation or exposure. Trust deficit issues hinder the media’s ability to perform its role effectively,” she added.
“The fear of exposure may result with self-censorship and less investigative reporting while scrutiny of powerful institutions shrinks – impacting the overall quality and independence of journalism while power abuse could persist and snowball.”
Earlier this week, three Malaysiakini journalists came under police investigation recently when the news portal published an article on Bukit Aman allegedly planning a major reshuffle involving its top officers, including Deputy Inspector-General Datuk Seri Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay.
The news portal’s Nantha Kumar, Hariz Mohd and Shahrin Aizat Noorshahrizam were questioned over their sources, among others.
Subsequently, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain had said the story was “untrue” as Bukit Aman had not issued an official statement on the matter. – Aug 9, 2024
Main image credit: Facebook/Chan Quin Er
