Malaysian authorities have refused to renew the work visas of two Australian journalists -- Drew Ambrose and Jenni Henderson -- who are being investigated for an Al Jazeera documentary on migrant workers in the country.
The pair are among seven Al Jazeera journalists being investigated for sedition, defamation and violation of the Communications and Multimedia Act. This is a criminal offence in Malaysia.
The visa refusal follows a raid on Al Jazeera’s offices by Malaysian police on Tuesday, where authorities seized two computers.
“We are disappointed and disturbed that the visas have not been renewed,” Giles Trendle, Managing Director of Al Jazeera English, told SBS Dateline.
Al Jazeera English has had a base in Kuala Lumpur for 14 years and covers the Asia and Australasia regions.
“Denying journalists the access and ability to do their job is a disturbing crackdown on press freedom.”
The Al Jazeera journalists -- including Drew Ambrose and Jenni Henderson -- were questioned by Malaysia police last month about their investigative documentary on the arrest of migrant workers, published on the 101 East program.
The documentary, Locked Up in Malaysia’s Lockdown, details how thousands of undocumented migrant workers have been arrested during raids in areas under tight lockdowns during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Malaysian authorities said the report was being inaccurate, misleading and unfair.
After denouncing the documentary as “deceptive and unethical,” Defence Minister Ismail Saabri said that Al Jazeera should “apologise to all Malaysians.”
After questioning the journalists, Malaysian authorities arrested a Bangladeshi man featured in the documentary. He criticised the country's treatment of undocumented migrants during the coronavirus pandemic.
In a documentary on Al Jazeera, Rayhan Kabir said the government discriminated against irregular foreign workers by arresting and jailing them. The 25-year-old will now be deported.
Al Jazeera has slammed the investigation as an indictment on press freedom in Malaysia and has previously said they fear for the safety of their reporters.
“Al Jazeera calls upon the Malaysian authorities to cease this criminal investigation into our journalists,” said Giles Trendle.
“In general, we are deeply concerned about the situation of press freedom. The idea that our journalism has been conflated with sedition, which is an attempt to bring down the government, is excessive and outrageous.
“Journalism is not a crime.”
As well as the Al Jazeera report, Malaysian authorities are investigating several other reporters for stories they have published, including Tashny Sukumaran for another report on immigration raids during COVID-19.
The Human Rights Watch last month said Malaysian authorities are increasingly responding to criticism as a crime.
“Malaysia’s Perikatan Nasional government is increasingly responding to public criticism by carrying out abusive investigations on specious charges,” said Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director.
“Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin should recognize that everyone has a right to criticise their government without fear of investigation or prosecution."
