AL Jazeera has hit back at the National Film Development Corporation’s (Finas) assertion that it needed a licence to shoot a recent documentary in Malaysia, saying the corporation’s own guidelines states it is unnecessary for the category of filming involved.

In a tweet tonight, Al Jazeera English managing director Giles Trendle said that its 101 East programme, which aired the controversial documentary Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown recently, did not flout Finas’ rules.

“Unable to contest the integrity of our journalism, we believe the authorities are now attempting this new gambit of claiming we did not have a proper licence,” he said. 

Al Jazeera also said by Finas’ “own definition, the 101 East weekly current affairs show does not fall into the category of film requiring a licence”.

Finas had earlier today said Al Jazeera did not have the film production licence or filming authentication certificate (SPP) to produce its 25-minute documentary highlighting the treatment of undocumented migrants during the government’s movement control order period.

Finas also said it would cooperate with the police in its probe into the film under Section 22(1) of the Finas Act 1981 (Amendment 2013) for filming without a valid Finas licence.

Trendle, meanwhile, said Finas’ claim that Al Jazeera fell foul of the law did not hold water. 

“We do not believe this is a credible line of argument. In fact, we believe it is contradicted by the very own published guidelines of the relevant authority,” Trendle said. 

Al Jazeera asserts that, according to the #Malaysia’s National Film Development Corporation’s own definition, the 101 East weekly current affairs show does not fall into the category of film requiring a licence. 1/3 @AJ101East pic.twitter.com/vPbiAKP1qI

— Al Jazeera PR (@AlJazeera) July 22, 2020

On July 10, Al Jazeera reporters involved in the making of the documentary were hauled up by the police for questioning over the investigative piece that alleges the authorities mistreated illegals during the MCO period.

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

“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.”

Police have since opened investigation papers into Al Jazeera’s film under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 500 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act. – July 22, 2020.