The Al Jazeera team has maintained that their reporting on a documentary here was fair, says their lawyer.
Lawyer Hisyam Teh Poh Teik, when met outside Bukit Aman on Friday (July 10), said his clients will cooperate fully with police investigations.
“The documentary as depicted was balanced and fair. It catered views from different sides. In fact, attempts were made to seek government response. But these responses did not come.
“Despite the fact, footage was used from government releases and was put in the documentary,” he said.
He maintained that no mischief was intended during the production of the documentary.
Many Malaysians have slammed the 25-minute documentary and accused Al Jazeera of “unfair reporting”.
The documentary highlighted the government’s actions on migrants while dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic.
In a statement released on the international news outlet’s portal at 7pm yesterday (July 9), Al Jazeera said that it stands by the content of its 101 East documentary titled “Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown”.
It also Jazeera also said that its staff in Malaysia has been the target of sustained online abuse, including death threats and the disclosure of their personal details, since the documentary was aired.
“In fact, one report has been lodged at the Dang Wangi police station because the staff member felt threatened. We hope the police will investigate the report and give the necessary protection to the employees of Al Jazeera,” Teh said.
Al Jazeera also voiced its concern for the safety of those interviewed in the documentary, who were also harassed online.
“People should feel free to speak with the media and express their views without the fear that they could be targeted,” it added.