Malaysian police raided the Al-Jazeera network office in the capital Kuala Lumpur today, as part of an investigation into a program broadcast by the channel on the country’s treatment of foreign workers who do not possess documents during the outbreak of the emerging Corona Virus pandemic.
Authorities launched the probe into the Qatar-based broadcaster’s programme last month, adding to concerns about worsening media freedom in Malaysia.
The documentary — “Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown” — looked at the detention of undocumented foreigners when strict coronavirus curbs were in place, as well as the plight of other migrants.
The network said in a statement that the police seized two computers from the office during its raid today, and considered it a “worrying escalation of the authorities’ campaign against freedom of the media, and the extent to which they can reach them is intimidating journalists.”
Al-Jazeera affirmed its support for the report, and called on “the Malaysian authorities to desist from this criminal investigation against our journalists.”
Human rights groups have accused the Malaysian government of suppressing media freedom after the police summoned Al-Jazeera journalists for questioning on the background of the film’s broadcast, and launched an investigation into allegations of incitement, defamation, and violations of the communications law.
Last month, the authorities launched an investigation into the documentary entitled “Detainees during public isolation in Malaysia”, which focused on arresting undocumented migrants in places subject to strict closure measures to reduce the emerging corona virus, as well as addressing the plight of other migrants.
Against the background of the film, the authorities summoned seven of the island’s journalists – including five Australians – for interrogation last month, and arrested a Bangladeshi man who, during the program, criticized the government’s treatment of migrant workers.❑
