MELAKA: The Melaka Media Practitioners Club (Pendika) has lodged a police report after a journalist from a Bahasa Malaysia news portal received threats and had his family’s personal details exposed online following coverage of a case involving a self-proclaimed “silat master” accused of sexually assaulting two teenage girls.
Pendika chairman Amir Mamat said the harassment targeted journalist Muhammad Rizanizam Abdul Hamid, 44, and escalated when his family members’ images were circulated on social media, exposing them to physical threat and cyberattacks.
He said the online abuse intensified after the publication of the article on Nov 14, compromising both media freedom and the safety of journalists in the state.
According to Amir, individuals dissatisfied with the reference to the suspect as a “silat master” had posted abusive comments, made defamatory remarks and encouraged others to participate in mass harassment.
“Pendika stands firmly in defending the safety of our members and strongly condemns threats, insults and intimidation towards journalists,” he said.
He added that media practitioners abide by journalistic ethics and report based on verified information and authoritative sources.
“Personal attacks, calls to organise coordinated online assaults and the sharing of family details are criminal acts that cannot be ignored. Pendika has therefore lodged a police report at the Bukit Baru police station at 11.59am on Monday (Nov 17),” he said.
Meanwhile, Rizanizam said the threats had caused deep distress to him and his family.
“The comments urging others to attack me have created fear. The release of personal information and pictures of my family without consent raises serious concerns for our safety,” he said.
It is learnt that Melaka police have opened an investigation under Section 507B of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
