Four police officers from the Kubang Pasu police station grilled Fazli Ahmad, 31, for more than one hour about his story of hill- and land-clearing activities in the state. Fazli works for private broadcaster TV3, who aired the story on their prime time news on Feb 27.

Fazli told English tabloid the Malay Mail that the officers, led by Assistant Superintendent Abdul Sani Ahmad, came to see him at his office in Alor Star at 11am yesterday.

"They kept asking me what was my agenda for reporting...." he said.

He was grilled about his sources, who assigned him, and why the story had that focus.

The Kedah head of Special Branch could not be reached to verify this. Fazli has reportedly lodged a police report.

CIJ views the police action as deliberate intimidation toward the reporter who was only doing his job of informing society about an issue of public concern. The topic was all the more timely and pertinent as the prime minister himself has been shocked by the environmental degradation elsewhere as exposed in the media recently, and has ordered remedial action.

CIJ urges that the 'investigation' against Fazli be dropped. The police should recognise the role of journalists and the media in protecting the interests and well-being of society by raising issues of public interest.

Take action:

Please write a letter to the Malaysian Internal Security Minister expressing your concern:

Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi
Minister for Internal Security
Prime Minister's Office
Federal Government Administration Centre
Bangunan Perdana Putra
62502 Putrajaya
Malaysia

Fax: ++603 8888 8000
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