Govt respects press freedom but the media must follow the law, says Fahmi

PUTRAJAYA: The government respects the media's rights to protect their sources, but journalists should also cooperate with any police investigation as required by law, says Fahmi Fadzil.

"If there is any police report made based on existing laws, we urge them to cooperate with the police in the investigation," said the Communications Minister

"We have previously stated the government's stand that we respect the media's rights to protect their sources or whistleblowers, but existing laws apply," he said in a press conference after the weekly post-Cabinet meeting here on Wednesday (Aug 7).

On Tuesday (Aug 6), Bukit Aman denied an online portal's report that there would be a major reshuffle of the top leadership in the police.

Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain said that the news portal had refused to divulge the source of their story.

Razarudin also advised all parties not to quote unofficial sources for matters involving security and government agencies.

Kuala Lumpur police chief Comm Datuk Rusdi Mohd Isa later said that a police report had been lodged and the case was being investigated under Section 505(b) of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.