KUALA LUMPUR - The Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) has expressed its concern that the Star newspaper has been issued a show-cause letter by the Ministry of Home Affairs, following police reports lodged against the daily.
The police reports were made over the publication of a columnist questioning the caning of three Muslim women for indulging in illicit sex.
The CIJ, in a statement issued Friday has asked the Home Ministry to retract the show-cause letter and for the police reports to be withdrawn.
CIJ Communication and Publications Officer Yip Wai Fong said "it is the media's role to provide opinion on current issues and this must be respected."
Protests by NGOs and individuals
The media had reported early this week that the Home Ministry had issued the show cause letter to the Star after several non-government organisations and eight individuals lodged police reports against it.
The NGOs were the National Indigenous Organisation (Perkasa), Perkasa Selangor, Muslim Consummers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and the Malaysian Muslim People's Coalition (IRIMM).
Their protest was over a commentary piece on Feb 19, written by Star managing editor and veteran journalist P Gunasegaran on the issue.
The NGOs viewed the commentary as an insult to Islam because it came from a non-Muslim. Besides an apology, the Muslim NGOs demanded that the writer be sacked.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), besides lodging a report against Gunasegaran, lodged a similar report against Sisters in Islam (SIS) for questioning the syariah whipping against the three women.
Mais secretary Mohamed Khusrin Munawi said those, who were not well-versed with the Syariah criminal law, had no rights and not qualified to question a law governing Muslims.
On an apology issued by Star on Wednesday, he said it was not sufficient.
Apology tendered
In his article, "Persuasion, not compulsion", Gunasegaran asked whether the sentence of both caning and detention are proportionate to the offence, ie illicit sex, and argued against punitive sentence for private behaviour.
The Star apologised publicly on Feb 24 in response to demands made by some readers.
"The lodging of police reports, and the point made that the writer is not fit to comment because he is a not a Muslim, does not promote understanding of the issues," said Yip.
She added: "A common response is to invoke the use of repressive laws, a threat used not only by the authorities but increasingly, by non-governmental organisations.
'Don't curtail discussions'
"This worrying trend has the effect of silencing dissenting views and putting a stop to intellectual engagement."
Yip reasoned that discussion of laws and court judgments - be it civil or syari'ah - should not be curtailed.
"It is not a sign of disrespect; in fact, it strengthens Malaysia's legal system," she said.
"The flow of information, ideas, analyses and opinions should be encouraged.
"It helps us find out what's what and shapes our understanding of issues and concerns that are faced by a multi-ethnic society like Malaysia's," Yip said.
MM
26/02/10
The police reports were made over the publication of a columnist questioning the caning of three Muslim women for indulging in illicit sex.
The CIJ, in a statement issued Friday has asked the Home Ministry to retract the show-cause letter and for the police reports to be withdrawn.
CIJ Communication and Publications Officer Yip Wai Fong said "it is the media's role to provide opinion on current issues and this must be respected."
Protests by NGOs and individuals
The media had reported early this week that the Home Ministry had issued the show cause letter to the Star after several non-government organisations and eight individuals lodged police reports against it.
The NGOs were the National Indigenous Organisation (Perkasa), Perkasa Selangor, Muslim Consummers Association of Malaysia (PPIM) and the Malaysian Muslim People's Coalition (IRIMM).
Their protest was over a commentary piece on Feb 19, written by Star managing editor and veteran journalist P Gunasegaran on the issue.
The NGOs viewed the commentary as an insult to Islam because it came from a non-Muslim. Besides an apology, the Muslim NGOs demanded that the writer be sacked.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais), besides lodging a report against Gunasegaran, lodged a similar report against Sisters in Islam (SIS) for questioning the syariah whipping against the three women.
Mais secretary Mohamed Khusrin Munawi said those, who were not well-versed with the Syariah criminal law, had no rights and not qualified to question a law governing Muslims.
On an apology issued by Star on Wednesday, he said it was not sufficient.
Apology tendered
In his article, "Persuasion, not compulsion", Gunasegaran asked whether the sentence of both caning and detention are proportionate to the offence, ie illicit sex, and argued against punitive sentence for private behaviour.
The Star apologised publicly on Feb 24 in response to demands made by some readers.
"The lodging of police reports, and the point made that the writer is not fit to comment because he is a not a Muslim, does not promote understanding of the issues," said Yip.
She added: "A common response is to invoke the use of repressive laws, a threat used not only by the authorities but increasingly, by non-governmental organisations.
'Don't curtail discussions'
"This worrying trend has the effect of silencing dissenting views and putting a stop to intellectual engagement."
Yip reasoned that discussion of laws and court judgments - be it civil or syari'ah - should not be curtailed.
"It is not a sign of disrespect; in fact, it strengthens Malaysia's legal system," she said.
"The flow of information, ideas, analyses and opinions should be encouraged.
"It helps us find out what's what and shapes our understanding of issues and concerns that are faced by a multi-ethnic society like Malaysia's," Yip said.
MM
26/02/10
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