THE police will continue their probe against South China Morning Post news correspondent Tashny Sukumaran over her report on the authorities’ raid on hundreds of undocumented migrants, said Bukit Aman Criminal Investigation Department chief Huzir Mohamed.

“We will probe the matter. In fact, we have opened an investigation paper against her,” Huzir said today.

He said this while commenting on Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah’s remarks that he had directed the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) not to take any action against Tashny.

Earlier today, Saifuddin tweeted that he had ordered the MCMC to drop its probe into the former The Star journalist.

“I (have) stated to TV3 this morning that I (have) directed MCMC to not act against (you). I may not like (your) piece but I will defend (your) right to write it,” Saifuddin tweeted today.

He was replying to Tashny’s tweet revealing her summons to the Bukit Aman police headquarters this Wednesday for questioning under the Penal Code and the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA).

According to Tashny, she is being probed under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the CMA.

The Penal Code section pertains to intentional insult and provocation that could cause breach of public peace, while the CMA deals with sharing of “offensive and menacing content”.

In her article on the Labour Day raid, Tashny had written that hundreds of migrants had been rounded up from Selangor Mansion, Malayan Mansion and Menara City One, all in areas under an enhanced movement control order (EMCO) as they are Covid-19 hotspots.

She reported on how social distancing was not observed among those detained, and cited human rights activists who said that children had been among those picked up.

Under the Penal Code, she faces up to two years’ jail, or a fine, or both, if found guilty, while the offence under the CMA carries a maximum fine of RM50,000 or a jail term not exceeding one year, or both, if convicted.

The raid has sparked outcry from local activists and lawyers, as well as local and international rights groups, who warned of a new wave of Covid-19 infections. – May 3, 2020.