Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan said: “While we have recalled Gah Chie for safety reasons, Malaysiakini will continue covering the Sarawak election with a number of other journalists.”
Sarawak police have confirmed that investigations had begun into six reports lodged against the Malaysiakini article.
Gan said the police reports were attempts to intimidate Malaysian journalists. “This is aimed at bringing a chilling effect on media ahead of the state polls. We should not bow to such harassment,” Gan said.
A pro-Umno blog called PRU14.tv had said on Saturday evening that Malaysiakini’s editorial management had ordered Kow at 2pm on Saturday to leave Sarawak urgently. The web site said she was seen leaving for Kuala Lumpur on an AirAsia flight at 6pm.
PRU14.tv had published a photomontage which included Kow’s photograph to illustrate its report.
The blog also claimed that Malaysiakini’s article about Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu’s Annuar Rapaee had created fear and anger among Sarawak people. Annuar is the BN candidate for Nangka and seeks re-election.
The article, published last Thursday, had said that Annuar had asked Sarawakians to vote for Barisan Nasional in the state election, “so that a Muslim leader can continue to lead the Sarawak government.”
Annuar said his words has been taken out of context. However, Malaysiakini said today that it stood by its report.
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