Al Jazeera staff probe: Aussie High Com says assisting its citizens here
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is providing assistance in accordance with its Consular Services Charter to a number of its citizens in Kuala Lumpur.
In an email to Malaysiakini, a DFAT spokesperson was responding to queries on the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur's response to the reported probe on five Al Jazeera staff, in connection with the network's "101 East" programme which highlighted alleged mistreatment of undocumented migrants by the Malaysian authorities during the movement control order...
Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is providing assistance in accordance with its Consular Services Charter to a number of its citizens in Kuala Lumpur.
In an email to Malaysiakini, a DFAT spokesperson was responding to queries on the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur's response to the reported probe on five Al Jazeera staff, in connection with the network's "101 East" programme which highlighted alleged mistreatment of undocumented migrants by the Malaysian authorities during the movement control order.
"Owing to our privacy obligations, we will not provide further comment," said the spokesperson.
Sydney-based Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) previously identified five of the six media workers called up to Bukit Aman for questioning on July 10 as Australians.
The group was released after about five hours and Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador, at a press conference later the same day clarified that they were only summoned as witnesses in the ongoing probe.
According to the Australian government's Consular Services Charter, in the event of an arrest, it would not have the powers to intervene in another country's legal processes, get a person out of prison or detention, or provide legal advice.
It would, however, arrange for visits to check on the welfare of any Australians arrested or detained and take measures to ensure equal treatment under the country's law.
The management of Al Jazeera has maintained that it stood by its contents of the 25-minute episode, amid backlash from netizens and various government officials since its release.
Among them was Senior Minister (Security) Ismail Sabri Yaakob who previously pointed out that minors were not handcuffed as alleged in the documentary.
Meanwhile, Communications and Multimedia Minister Saifuddin Abdullah said his ministry, through the Information Department, would also check Al Jazeera's accreditation which involved an approval for the international media to operate in the country.
