KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 7— Media groups today criticised Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali over his warning of action against media personnel who refuse to disclose sources of leaked official secrets, with one calling the move “blatant intimidation”.

One of the groups, Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), urged the AG to drop his intentions to implement harsher punishments against those who leak official secrets under the Official Secrets Act (OSA) and instead strengthen the National Whistleblower Act.

“Threatening the press who are merely carrying out duties to report on matters of public interest is something uncalled for,” Geramm said in a statement.

The group also said that the use of confidential sources for stories is not meant to sabotage the government but to “pursue truth and hold the powers that be accountable.”

“Journalism ethics also states that that the use of anonymous sources is protected as long as the facts obtained are verified,” it said.

Geramm referred to a 2013 High Court ruling that dismissing Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai’s application to compel a journalist to reveal his sources in a defamation case. The case is currently pending before the Federal Court.

“We condemn the threat by the AG towards the journalistic practise, as it would jeopardise the practise of ethical journalism in this country and further curb the people’s right to information,” it added.

Separately, another media watchdog, the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ) said that it was “appalled” by what it labelled as an “assault” against freedom of expression by the AG.

“It is signalling a government that is using all laws at its disposal to restrict and clamp down on our right to freedom of expression,” it said.

It said the recent leaks of official secrets are due to a “failed process” within the government to address issues of transparency and accountability.

Civil liberties lawyer Syahredzan Johan, when asked to comment, said that the AG did not seem to “respect journalism ethics.”

“This is too much. Protecting secrets is not a priority for the country. Corruption is even worse and actually causes major losses for the country, but the AG does not seem to prioritise this,” he said in a Facebook posting.

The AG was yesterday reported as saying that he will consider seeking an increase to the penalties available against those who leaked official secrets, including raising the sentences to life imprisonment and 10 strokes of the cane.

According to the Chinese language Sin Chew Daily, Apandi said the proposed amendments to the Official Secrets Act will also include journalists who refuse to identify the sources of the leaked information.

The AG also said that there is no right to information according to the Federal Constitution.