Journalist in Al Jazeera lockdown documentary questioned at Bukit Aman federal police headquarters

Last updated on May 6th, 2021 at 10:27 am

KUALA LUMPUR – At least six Al Jazeera staff accompanied by seven lawyers were seen walking into Bukit Aman federal police headquarters after being summoned for questioning with regards to the controversial documentary recently broadcasted by the news agency.

Bukit Aman federal police said they are investigating the crew for a possible sedition, defamation and violation if the country’s Communications and Multimedia Act.

The six news agency staff were seen entering the headquarters together with their 7 lawyers at aroun 9AM, an hour earlier than their 10am call time to avoid the media.

The Bukit Aman Classified Criminal Investigations Department summoned a witness yesterday to get their statements rocorded regarding the 25 minute documentary posted in Youtube on June 3.

The short film on Al Jazeera’s 101 East documentary strand titled “Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown” had alleged that Malaysian authorities of arresting thousands of undocumented migrant workers during raids under the imposed lockdowns.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said that the documentary was misleading, inaccurate and unfair. He also asked Al Jazeera to apologise to Malaysians, saying that allegations of racism and discrimination agains illegal migrants were not true. The Immigration’s director-general Datuk Khairul Dzaimee Daud warned the foreign nationals that any attempts to put Malaysia in a bad light or make any negative statements could see their passes revoked.