(July 24): Putrajaya's "authoritarian behaviour" in suspending publications critical of the government sends a chilling message for the media to practise self-censorship, warned Lawyers for Liberty (LFL) following the three-month suspension of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily.

In condemning the suspension, which it termed as a "most serious assault" on press freedom, LFL executive director Eric Paulsen said the suspension was also a case of suppressing a dissenting and critical press.

"The authorities must be reminded that journalism is not a crime. Press freedom is an indispensable component of any modern and democratic society as it functions as a form of check and balance against government excesses.

"Such authoritarian behaviour unfortunately sends a chilling message to the press to self-censor on issues such as 1MDB or else they may invite retaliation," he said in a statement today, using the acronym for 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

Paulsen also praised The Edge's coverage of the ongoing 1MDB scandal as Malaysia's press finest, and said under no circumstances the media group's coverage of the matter could be described as “prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion or is likely to be prejudicial to public and national interest" as alleged in the suspension order.

"The Edge’s coverage of the 1MDB scandal was Malaysia’s press’ finest hour. It was journalism at its best as they fearlessly investigated and reported on the massive and complex 1MDB scandal despite the overwhelming odds and threats against them.

“The Edge should be lauded for their outstanding journalism instead of being persecuted."

He also expressed concern that other media such as The Malaysian Insider and Malaysiakini had been targeted by Putrajaya in the past, while other pro-government press like Malay daily Utusan Malaysia was allowed to publish freely.

He urged the Home Ministry to retract the suspension order and allow both the public and market forces to decide if The Edge's coverage of the 1MDB scandal had been credible or otherwise.

Meanwhile, Amnesty International Malaysia executive director Shamini Darshni also expressed concern over the emerging pattern of clamping down of media freedom, noting that the suspension will only serve to curtain freedom of the media and people's right to information.

She said attempts to limit legitimate media freedom are hallmarks of a repressive government that sought not to protect fundamental rights of expression and information, but to instead stifle them further.

"The work of these news organisations remains at the core of the media’s role in any democracy: providing information in the public interest. The media often serves as a crucial check on public and private institutions, working to ensure transparent, accountable and, ultimately, responsible governance.

"The censorship of Sarawak Report, The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily is an unsettling indication of a media clampdown. Such actions to restrict media freedom also risk having a chilling effect on the media landscape as a whole," she said in a statement today.

The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily were slapped with a three-month suspension starting July 27.

Failure to stop publication for three months will result in the withdrawal of the publishing permits, the letter from the home ministry said.

The Edge Media Group publisher and CEO Ho Kay Tat said the media group will go to court to get the suspension lifted. – The Malaysian Insider