KUALA LUMPUR, JULY 24: The Home Ministry’s decision to suspend financial newspaper The Edge was criticised today by several quarters, who have called the suspension “unacceptable”.

Among them is Senai assemblywoman Wong Shu Qi, who in a statement said the suspension was proof of a desperate Najib attempting to silence his critics.

The Edge (pic from The Malaysian Insider)

“If the report made against Prime Minister Najib Razak by The Edge is not true, he should bring the publication to court to clear his name. Yet, both the PM and the authority chose a dubious method and an easy way out by flexing government’s muscle to shut down the publication,” she said.

“The reason for the suspension given by the Home Ministry is totally unacceptable and raised further questions. It is incumbent on the government to clarify which part of the news report was “prejudicial or likely to be prejudicial to public order, security or likely to alarm public opinion or is likely to be prejudicial to public and national interest”?

“Otherwise the high handed action will be seen as the gagging of press freedom, and a cover-up attempt on the part of the government in regards to the 1MDB scandal,” she added.

The Home Ministry announced today that it will be suspending the printing licenses of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months, effective July 27.

The suspension comes as no surprise as The Edge had received a show cause letter from the Ministry prior to its suspension. The Edge, which is owned by tycoon Tong Kooi Ong, has been a strong critic of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, writing numerous exposes on the debt-ridden state fund.

Others who have come out to condemn the move include a loose coalition of journalists called the Gerakan Media Marah (GERAMM).

GERAMM in a statement said the suspension was the testimony that the government harboured the intention to continue its clampdown on the media via the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 (TPPA).

“We reiterate our call for the government to abolish the PPPA as there is existing legal recourse to be taken in the event of any disputes over a published report, as well as to follow global democratic best practices,” urged GERAMM.

GERAMM said that media should have the entitlement to investigate matters that are of public interest, even if it means exposing the wrongdoing of authorities.

If the Home Ministry remains adamant in suspending The Edge without any solid evidence, such action can be seen as Home Ministry acting in bad faith against the media, GERAMM added.

Meanwhile, the Centre of Independent Journalism (CIJ) also rapped the suspension.

Its director Sonia Randhawa said the suspension is direct affront to the freedom of expression.

“It is absurd to make a sweeping generalisation of how the article published by the The Edge jeopardised national safety and public order, “ said Sonia.

“Contrary to what the Home Ministry is alleging, it appears that The Edge has acted in the public and national interest by bringing these allegations to light,” added CIJ.

Both GERAMM and CIJ have urged the government to lift the suspension of The Edge.

– The Rocket