IGP quit row: China Press threatened with suspension

The editor-in-chief of China Press has been told to resign over a report which claimed that inspector-general of police Musa Hassan had tendered his resignation, veteran MP Lim Kit Siang claimed today.

Should the editor refuse, the popular Chinese daily will face three to six months' suspension.

The DAP supremo said this at a conference in Parliament lobby this morning after leading a walkout from Dewan Rakyat by Pakatan Rakyat members of parliament.

This walkout was in protest of deputy speaker Ronald Kiandee's decision against allowing a debate on a motion by the Home Ministry instructing the IGP to "take care of passages of the streets to Parliament."

Lim said whatever China Press had done did not warrant such drastic action on the part of the Home Ministry.

"What's the big a deal about the China Press report? It was a mistake, yes. It should have been (reported that Musa was to resign in) September but they said March 25," said Lim.

"(Newspapers in) other countries that report about presidents and prime ministers going to resign, (they) go through corrections and then, of course, their credibility suffers.

"But what is the big deal here with the Home Minister breathing down the neck of the media?" he asked.

Hishammuddin denies claim

In an immediate response to Lim's allegation, Home Minister Hishammuddin Hussein (below) denied that the China Press editor has been told to resign.

He told a press conference in the Parliament lobby that the ministry has only issued a show-cause letter, and that the newspaper has replied with its explanation of the incident.

"As far as I know the editor has not been asked to resign. They (Pakatan MPs) will sensationalise and politicise any issue... It's not at all related to the motion that was brought today," he said.

Hishammuddin also described Lim's allegations as reckless and baseless.

"I took notice that not all the PR (Pakatan) MPs joined in the walkout. Even they (sic) don't agree with it," he added.

"What we did was to ask China Press to give an explanation, which is no different from what we did to The Star and the to Al-Islam," Hishammuddin said.

He was referring to The Star's recent apology over an opinion piece that criticised the Feb 9 caning of three Muslim women for illicit sex, and another by Al-Islam magazine after two of its journalists were found to have insulted a holy communion taking place in a church. 

"If everyone went about their duties properly and responsibly, there should not be any problems... I have not even seen the letter myself but there are already allegations that punishments have been meeted out. 

Top editors axed in 2006

Hishammuddin said that freedom of the press comes with responsibilities and that directives for a explanation was routine procedure.

In 2006, China Press was faced with possible suspension following its report over the nude-squat scandal, in which it mistakenly claimed that the individual concerned was a Chinese national.

The scandal, often referred as 'Squatgate' by the opposition, soured diplomatic ties between Malaysia and China.

The powerful Internal Security Ministry was reportedly appeased only after two of China Press' top editors were axed over the matter.

When contacted, China Press editor-in-chief Teoh Yong Khoon declined to comment on the controversy.

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