Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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(July 29): Calls for Putrajaya to end its suspension of The Edge and unblock Sarawak Report flooded Malaysians' Twitter feeds for two hours last night during the first #AtTheEdge social media campaign.

"#AtTheEdge" quickly became a trending topic from 8.30pm to 10.30pm, as Malaysians tagged ministers in their tweets demanding freedom of the press and information on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

"A free press can, of course, be good or bad, but most certainly without freedom, the press will never be anything but bad #AtTheEdge," said Twitter user Muzaffar Mustapa.

"#showusthemoney and yes, we know it's not for personal gain, but how did it get there? #attheedge @najibrazak," said Twitter user Siew Eng, who was referring to the allegations that 1MDB's funds were channelled into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's accounts.

Azrul Mohd Khalid tweeted to Najib several of the prime minister's own quotes from a 2012 speech on the need to have free media in the country.

"I hve always said tht I want the online space to be vibrant..traditional media tht is free, transparent,fair." @NajibRazak,2012 #AtTheEdge," Azrul Mohd Khalib tweeted.

"People care & are worried abt the 1MDB issue. Are you? #AtTheEdge @HishammuddinH20 @Zahid_Hamidi @Khairykj."

Noor Azam Shairi tweeted that the campaign was not just about fighting The Edge's suspension but demanding freedom for the media to carry out its responsibilities.

"The media must be free from the party it is covering, it must be an independent monitor of power and provide a forum for public criticism. #AtTheEdge," he tweeted.

"The basic principles of journalism that must be practiced by all media is not to suck up nor grovel to anyone."

Niki Cheong tweeted that The Edge's suspension could happen to any other media outlet and urged the public to stand together to oppose the ban.

"All media institutions must call for its own freedoms. It happened to The Edge, if it could happen to The Edge, it could happen to you. We must stand together. #AtTheEdge," he tweeted.

"If the govt answered all #1MDB questions, no media could threaten public order or national interest. #AtTheEdge," said Twitter user Alyaa Alhadjri.

The #AtTheEdge ad hoc committee, which organised the social media campaign, said it would be done every Tuesday from 8.30pm to 10.30pm.

Meanwhile, a mass gathering of journalists will be held outside The Edge's office this Friday to show their solidarity towards the publication. Another mass rally for the public will be held on August 8 in Kuala Lumpur.

The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily were suspended for three months starting from Monday over their coverage of 1MDB.

Home Ministry secretary-general Datuk Alwi Ibrahim in a statement on Saturday said the suspension of the publications was made after the ministry had scrutinised their reports on 1MDB and its reply to a show-cause letter.

The ministry gave three reasons for the suspension.

The Edge's suspension came after the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) blocked Sarawak Report on the grounds that the site's contents may be false, and to "maintain national stability". – The Malaysian Insider

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