Categories: World News

Malaysia Probes Al Jazeera Documentary About Migrant Arrests

 

 

Malaysian police said Tuesday they are investigating an Al Jazeera documentary about the arrests of undocumented migrants during the coronavirus lockdown after officials denounced it for damaging the country’s image.

The move comes after several activists, journalists and opposition figures have been put under investigation recently in what critics say is a bid to silence dissent.

The documentary by the Qatar-based broadcaster, “Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown”, focused on the detention of hundreds of migrants found without valid documents in areas under strict lockdowns.

Authorities defended the May arrests as necessary to protect public health, but rights groups warned that putting the foreigners in detention centres could increase the risk of infection.

National police chief Abdul Hamid Bador said an investigation had been launched after complaints were lodged about the 25-minute documentary.

Officials would examine whether the report “contains elements of sedition, or any other offences, under the laws of the country”, he told a press conference.

“We will be calling them soon for questioning… We will decide on the charges after we question them.”

Al Jazeera, which broadcast the documentary last week, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The programme sparked a backlash online, and ministers have lined up to criticise it — with Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday demanding an apology from Al Jazeera.

He said the broadcaster had “reported incorrect things, accusing us of being racist”.

Concerns about worsening freedom of expression have been growing in Malaysia since the collapse of a reformist government in February and the return of a scandal-plagued party to power.

One of the country’s leading independent news portals, Malaysiakini, faces contempt of court proceedings next week over reader comments on its site that were critical of the judiciary.

Malaysia is home to large numbers of migrants from poorer countries — including Indonesia, Bangladesh and Myanmar — who work in industries ranging from manufacturing to agriculture.

 

 

 

-AFP

Nebianet Usaini

Disqus Comments Loading...
Share
Published by
Nebianet Usaini
Tags: Malaysia

Recent Posts

Tinubu Appoints Abdullahi Bello As CCB Chairman 

By the presidential pronouncement, Abdullahi Bello replaces Aliyu Kankia, who has been the acting Chairman…

18 mins ago

NAFDAC Cracks Down On Fake Bottled Water Syndicate In Rivers

The illicit scheme involved affixing pre-printed Eva labels onto the bottles and sealing them with…

3 hours ago

New Senegal President’s Home Village Full Of Pride, Hope And Advice

The uncle of the new president and his namesake Diomaye Faye said that running as…

3 hours ago

‘Caution Wike’, Sekibo, Secondus, Omehia, Others Pledge Support For Tinubu

They expressed their displeasure at the direction of events unfolding politically in the state and…

3 hours ago

Sean Combs, The Rap Mogul Facing A Web Of Sex Crime Allegations

He has no major convictions but has long been trailed by allegations of physical assault,…

3 hours ago

Russian Military Jet Crashes Into Sea Off Crimea

"A military plane has fallen into the sea," Governor Mikhail Razvozhayev said in a post…

3 hours ago