PETALING JAYA, July 31 — Some 200 journalists and other people rallied at The Edge Media Group’s office here today, demanding that the Home Ministry lift the suspension of the media organisation’s two business papers.
The Coalition for Press Freedom (CPF), which comprises several journalist groups, also announced that another public rally, called #AtTheEdge, would be held at Pasar Seni in Kuala Lumpur on August 8 to protest against the three-month suspension of the printing permits of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily over reports on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
“We have gathered here today to condemn the blatant attempt at suppressing freedom of the press, freedom of information and to raise awareness of the urgent need to uphold the people’s right to freedom of information,” CPF representative Shannon Teoh told the crowd.
“In these trying times, it is crucial that the media stands united and hand in hand with the people they serve,” he added.
CPF comprises Gerakan Media Marah (Geramm), the Institute of Journalists Malaysia (IoJ), the Foreign Correspondents Club of Malaysia (FCCM), Reporters Sans Frontieres (RSF) and the Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily were suspended for three months starting July 27, with national newswire Bernama quoting the Home Ministry as saying that the two publications’ reporting had created negative perceptions of state-owned 1MDB and implicated the government.
