KUALA LUMPUR – Police must exercise restraint when questioning New Straits Times group editor Farrah Naz Karim over the paper’s report exposing alleged Mossad operations to abduct Palestinians here, veteran journalist Tan Sri Johan Jaafar said.
The national journalism laureate added in a statement that the paper was acting as the eyes and ears of the public, and should be allowed to operate without fear or favour.
“(This is) especially when it involves matters of national interest and security. A free press is critical to ensure a functioning democracy,” Johan said in a statement.
NST earlier today said Farrah was being summoned by police over an article exposing a bungled assignment by local hires of Israel’s national intelligence agency Mossad to kidnap two “high-value” Palestinians in Malaysia said to be linked to Hamas on September 28.
One Palestinian reportedly escaped and lodged a police report, which led to swift police action to rescue the other who was being held in Hulu Langat.
Johan added that it is shocking knowledge if Israeli operatives are active in Malaysia.
“We are a sovereign nation and no country, let alone Israel, has the right to operate under such circumstances.
“The interior minister and police must assure the public that such clandestine operations are totally unacceptable and must be condemned,” he said.
Eleven people were charged at the Kuala Lumpur magistrates’ court last Friday over the incident, and case mention is set for December 15.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Acryl Sani Abdullah yesterday urged the public not to speculate about the kidnapping case.
The alleged involvement of Israeli intelligence using locals to carry out operations, however, has raised alarm including from Malay-Muslim groups and opposition figures who have questioned the state of Malaysia’s national security.
Malaysia and Israel do not have diplomatic relations. – The Vibes, October 19, 2022
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