Mr. Mohd Sharil Tarmizi
Chief Operating Officer
Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission
63000 Cyberjaya
Selangor

September 14, 2009

Dear Sir,

I am writing on behalf of Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), a non-profit, non-governmental organization that works to promote and protect press freedom and freedom of expression around the world.

CJFE is disturbed about the harassment of the editors and staff of online newspaper Malaysiakini by the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC). The harassment appears to be in response to Malaysiakini's reporting about a protest that was called the "cow's head protest" in Shah Alam on August 28.

On September 3, the MCMC requested that Malaysiakini remove two videos from its website. It is reported that one of the videos showed a group of residents, mainly Malay Muslims, protesting the relocation of a Hindu temple to their residential area. The protesters were shown dragging the decapitated head of a cow, an animal that Hindus revere and are forbidden to kill. The second video was of a press conference held by Home Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein after he had met with the protestors.

The repeated visits by the MCMC to the office of Malaysiakini could be seen as harassment. The MCMC visited Malaysiakini's office three times last week and conducted lengthy investigations of 12 staff members.

CJFE urges the authorities and regulating bodies to be fair in their investigations. We call on the MCMC to discontinue this harassment and to desist from any further pressure that would violate the right to free expression of Malaysiakini's staff. We thank you for your attention and look forward to your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Arnold Amber, President