MALAYSIA’S police chief today insisted that investigations into an Al Jazeera documentary are being conducted “professionally” and rejected concerns about worsening media freedom, a day after the broadcaster’s office was searched.

Authorities are probing into the news network’s Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown after the government took issue with its critical look at the treatment of migrant workers during the coronavirus pandemic.

Officials yesterday searched the Qatar-based broadcaster’s Kuala Lumpur office and seized two computers, sparking fresh anger from Al Jazeera and rights groups, and adding to concerns about media independence in the country.

However, Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador said the search by cops and officials from the Communications and Multimedia Ministry was carried out “very professionally”.

“It was not a military kind of action taken by police,” he told AFP in an interview.

He said Al Jazeera staff were “informed earlier of our intent to be there. They were even asked which devices were used. They cooperated”.

The search comes after seven of the network’s journalists were questioned by police last month in connection with the documentary.

Hamid said the probe will be wrapped up soon, after which the attorney-general will decide whether to bring charges.

The government insists that the report, which focuses on the alleged mistreatment of migrants when they were rounded up during the virus lockdown in May, has tarnished the country’s image.

Authorities have said the round-up was necessary to protect the public from Covid-19.

Al Jazeera is being investigated for sedition, defamation and transmitting offensive content, but it has stood by the documentary, saying its reporting is impartial.

Hamid said the probe “will be very transparent”, and that journalists in Malaysia are free to do their jobs.

But, he also urged international media outlets to “be responsible”, calling on them not to “write something… that is inaccurate”. – AFP, August 5, 2020.