He said the Penang Government was deeply shocked that Malaysiakini’s sister company KiniTV and its two directors Steven Gan and Premesh Chandran would be charged under Section 244(1) of the Communications and Multimedia Act in the Special Cyber Court Friday.
“This is the first time that a person or a company is (being) charged for annoying a political appointee by recording a video clip that called for Attorney-General Mohd Apandi Ali’s resignation,” Lim said.
KiniTV had broadcast two videos – one in Bahasa Malaysia and one in English – showing former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan giving a press conference where he had urged Attorney-General Mohd Apandi Ali to resign.
Lim described the action against KiniTV and its two directors as an attack on the principles of press freedom and the right of journalists to do their jobs without harassment.
It also reflected on the democratic accountability of public officials, he added in a statement.
“Charging Malaysiakini would appear to be treating criticisms personally when the Attorney-General should realise that he is not above such criticism in carrying out his public duties.
“If that is the case then everyone should be charged under the CMA, not only for annoying the AG but also annoying political leaders. Our society would rapidly descend and spiral downwards to George Orwell’s 1984.”
He posed a question: “If Malaysiakini can be charged under the CMA for uploading two videos that are “offensive in nature with intent to annoy” the Attorney-General, can BN news media networks like TV3 be charged for doing the same against me as Penang Chief Minister?
“Action must be taken against BN news media like TV3 because failure to do so would display not only double-standards, but an unfortunate impression that only anti-BN leaders and opposition political parties are targeted.”
The DAP leader urged for good sense, rationality and reason to prevail and to withdraw “such unjustified charges against KiniTV and its two directors”.
Lim noted that defamation suits could be filed in courts for such offensive or insulting remarks and there was no need for criminal proceedings.
“In view that similar charges are not made against those who attack Penang Government leaders, the state government is willing to offer assistance to KiniTV and the two directors in fighting such unwarranted charges against them,” he added.