The Malaysian Insight

FIVE editors and a photographer from The Star gave their statements in Bukit Aman today over a controversial front page last Saturday which drew criticism and police reports.

Among the editors were executive editor Rozaid Abdul Rahman, Brian Martin, N. Dorairaj, specialist editor M.Shanmugam and executive editor Errol Oh, and the photographer was Mohd Sahar Misni.

They arrived at 11.30am and were ushered in 30 minutes later.

The six spent nearly three hours answering questions on the editing and publishing process which produced the frontpage that drew the ‘ire’ of the Muslims in the country.

They were accompanied by lawyers New Sin Yew and Amer Hamzah Arshad, who said the editors gave their full cooperation to the police.

The newsmen were hauled up to Bukit Aman today to facilitate a sedition probe into the newspaper after police reports were lodged against it for allegedly touching upon the sensitivities of Muslims.

On Saturday, the MCA-owned English daily published a front page report headlined “Malaysian terrorist leader” above a picture of Muslims praying.

Utusan Malaysia and The New Straits Times had also carried similar headlines and photographs on their front pages.

Malay right wing group Perkasa said action should be taken against The Star but not the other two as it was not the first time the English daily made errors that angered Muslims.

The Home Ministry on Monday issued a show-cause letter to The Star over over the incident and said it is disappointed with the “inappropriate” content.

“The ministry is very disappointed with the headline and the front page picture which were unrelated. It was inappropriate as it is confusing and will lead to misunderstanding and prejudice against Muslims.

“This has inadvertently belittled the religion of Islam,” said a Home Ministry statement today.

The show-cause letter was handed over to the editors of The Star summoned to the ministry on Monday. – May 31, 2017.