(July 1): Lawyers for Liberty is concerned about the Home Ministry's move to issue a show-cause letter to The Edge over what Putrajaya alleged as “unverified” news that was published in the business weekly on the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, saying it is a clear attempt to silence the press.

Its executive director, Eric Paulsen, said it was clear cut that Putrajaya retaliated given that The Edge was critical of the scandal and instrumental in maintaining coverage of the billions unaccounted for in 1MDB.

He added that such authoritarian behaviour sent a "chilling message" to the press to self-censor on issues such as 1MDB, or else they may invite retaliation.

"It is preposterous for the Home Ministry to suggest that action can be taken against the press if they were to publish 'unverified' or 'distorted' news.

"All the authorities needed to do if there were such 'unverified' or 'distorted' news is for them to publish an explanation clarifying the issues rather than using unfair and undemocratic means of retaliation," Paulsen said in a statement today.

He noted that this intimidation tactic was not new as The Edge and online news portals The Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini as well as other independent press had been targeted, while pro-government press like Utusan Malaysia were allowed to publish freely.

The Star reported today that the Home Ministry issued a show-cause letter to The Edge over its reports on 1MDB on Monday evening.

Last week, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi warned The Edge and its owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong that publishing permits issued to the media group can be revoked over reportage on 1MDB since leaked information on the state-owned strategic investor might have been tampered with.

He said The Edge and Tong had to take responsibility for reporting inaccurate news and factual errors.

The statement came after news that a former PetroSaudi International employee had been arrested for alleged blackmail and fabrication of information leaked to UK-based website Sarawak Report.

Paulsen today reminded the authorities that journalism "was not a crime" and that press freedom was an indispensable component of any modern and democratic society as it functioned as a form of check and balance against government excesses.  

"It goes without saying that the press must as far as possible, in line with journalism ethics, publish truthfully and accurately but that is not the same as publishing news to the satisfaction of the authorities," he added.

Paulsen urged the Home Ministry to retract the letter to The Edge and let the public and market forces decide whether its coverage on the 1MDB scandal was credible. – The Malaysian Insider