AL JAZEERA’S team and witnesses have arrived at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman for questioning on their 101 East investigative documentary, Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown.

Police are investigating Al Jazeera under the Penal Code and Sedition Act for its controversial report on illegal immigrants.

Six Al Jazeera staff were seen entering Bukit Aman, which included a producer, an editor, a journalist, cameraman and a technician.

The group arrived about 8.50am, accompanied by seven lawyers.

Al Jazeera in a statement said that Malaysian authorities should desist from initiating any criminal investigation into its professional and impartial journalism.

The news agency said in a statement that they are prepared to host a representative from Putrajaya to respond to the matters raised in the documentary.

“Malaysian officials have criticised the documentary as being inaccurate, misleading and unfair.

“Al Jazeera strongly refutes these charges and stands by the professionalism, quality and impartiality of its journalism.”

Yesterday, Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department (CID) deputy director (investigation/legal) Mior Faridalathrash Wahid said several individuals were required to come to Bukit Aman and the Putrajaya district police headquarters to have their statements recorded.

He said Rayhan Kabir, a Bangladeshi national featured in the documentary, will also be summoned.

Mior Faridalathrash also confirmed that police have recorded the statement of a social activist over a Facebook post alleging the mistreatment of detainees at Immigration Department depots.

He said investigation papers have been opened under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act.

Bukit Aman CID director Huzir Mohamed previously said five reports have been lodged over the documentary, which alleges the authorities’ mistreatment of illegals during the movement-control order to curb Covid-19. – July 10, 2020.