(July 24): The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) condemns the three-month suspension of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financialy Daily's publishing permits by the Home Ministry.

According to a news report, the Home Ministry stated that the newspapers' reporting on 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad) were "prejudicial or likely to be prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion." It also stated that the reporting on 1MDB was "likely to be prejudicial to public and national interest."

For the government to censor a newspaper in this manner is an extremely heavy-handed measure and a breach of freedom of expression and media freedom in particular. To justify such a serious and extreme measure, it is wholly insufficient for the Home Ministry to merely make sweeping, general claims about prejudice to public order, security or alarm. It must specify exactly how The Edge's reporting on 1MDB would jeopardise public order or security.

For now, it appears that The Edge has revealed information about alleged fraud involving billions of ringgit in a government-owned investment corporation. Contrary to what the Home Ministry is alleging, it appears that The Edge has acted in the public and national interest by bringing these allegations to light. It is presumably in this vein that a special task force has been set up to investigate the veracity of these claims.

For the government to muzzle The Edge under these circumstances only leads to more questions on the management of 1MDB. It is in fact in the public and government's interest for the governance and management of 1MDB to be transparent and accountable. This is essential in rebuilding national and international confidence in the state's ability to manage our finances. To act heavy-handedly against critics, with vague justifications, will have the opposite effect.

CIJ calls on the Home Minister to lift the suspension against The Edge newspapers immediately and to respect media freedom and freedom of expression.

Sonia Randhawa and Jac Kee
Directors
Centre for Independent Journalism Malaysia