27/09/2025

SATURDAY | SEPT 27, 2025

5 Activist slams RM100,000 media fines

o ‘Penalties on Sin Chew and Sinar Harian excessive and risk crippling already struggling media industry’

Xi Jinping’s state visit. The case triggered investigations under the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984. In April, Sin Chew suspended its executive editor-in-chief and deputy chief sub-editor pending investigation. Both were later questioned by police and released on bail. More than 40 reports were lodged nationwide and at least 42 witness statements taken. On Sept 19, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) issued RM100,000 compounds each against Sin Chew Media and Sinar Karangkraf with the approval of the Attorney-General’s Chambers. The MCMC defended the penalties, stating that national emblems must be respected at all times and that false content involving key institutions could undermine public confidence.

“Their strength is verification, credibility and accuracy. Apologies can be made but sometimes the damage is already done.” Chai cautioned that repeated mistakes risked eroding public trust, citing a past libel case involving a political leader in which the guilty verdict came years after elections had already been decided. “This underlines why accuracy and ethics can never be compromised. Journalism must return to its foundations,” he said. He also criticised the tendency of some publications to racialise legal matters, calling it irresponsible. “Media must focus on facts, not frame them through ethnic or emotional lenses. Speak to credible sources, not just the easiest ones,” he added. The controversy erupted when Sin Chew Daily published a front page illustration of the Malaysian flag missing its crescent moon, coinciding with Chinese President

Lee also stressed the need for tighter editorial checks. “This is a wake-up call – fact-check everything before going to print,” he added. Universiti Sains Malaysia communication lecturer Dr Chai Ming Hock said both cases reflected serious lapses in editorial judgement that could have been avoided with stricter adherence to journalistic fundamentals. “In Sin Chew’s case, the responsibility lay with the photo editor or equivalent to verify every image before publication. You can only cut costs so far before standards slip and this has become a very expensive mistake,” he said. On Sinar Harian , fined for wrongly linking the inspector general of police to a political party, Chai suggested the rush to publish was driven by pressure to keep up with social media. “If you’re unsure, don’t publish. (Conventional) media should not try to match social media for speed.

Ű BY IKHWAN ZULKAFLEE newsdesk@thesundaily.com

“In Sin Chew’ s case, the anomaly involving the Jalur Gemilang was most likely the result of an AI process without proper fact-checking. What matters is that it was not premeditated. “Nobody intended to

PETALING JAYA: Social activist Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye ( pic) has criticised the RM100,000 fines imposed on Sin Chew Media Corporation Berhad and Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd, describing them as “very heavy” and warning that such penalties could weaken Malaysia’s already struggling media industry. He added that the incidents, namely a flawed Jalur Gemilang graphic in Sin Chew Daily and a factual error by Sinar Harian, were unintentional mistakes rather than deliberate affronts.

mock the flag. We regret the incident, but it was not deliberate,” he told theSun . On Sinar Harian , Lee said misreporting may warrant a stern warning, not a six figure compound. “The media play a constructive role in nation

building. For a first offence, a warning would suffice,” he said, adding that heavy fines could cripple newsrooms already reeling from falling print sales.

Suspect found dead after hammer attack on nephew KOTA BHARU: A 46-year-old man suspected of critically injuring his seven-year-old nephew in a hammer attack was found dead in an apparent suicide at Pantai Melawi on Thursday. The suspect allegedly attacked the boy at about 5.15pm at a shoplot on Jalan Pasar Jelawat in Bachok before fleeing on a motorcycle. “The man’s body was retrieved by a forensic team. His nephew remains in critical condition at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital in Kubang Kerian with serious head injuries,” he told Bernama when contacted. He added that investigations into the man’s death are ongoing. Section 326 of the Penal Code for causing grievous harm with a dangerous weapon and Section 31(1) of the Child Act 2001,” he said in a statement. Preliminary investigations suggested the suspect had been experiencing hallucinations and had a history of drug abuse.

Disabled man drowns after falling into drain IPOH: A man with disabilities drowned after falling into a drain along Jalan Labu Kubong in Kampung Cenderong Balai, Teluk Intan, yesterday. Perak Fire and Rescue Department acting assistant director of operations Shazlean Mohd Hanafiah said an emergency call was received at 8.02am and a team from the Teluk Intan fire station was immediately despatched. “Upon arrival, firefighters were informed that the victim, Mohd Zaidi Ismail, 48, who was paralysed on his left side and used a wheelchair, had fallen into the drain. The fire department promptly retrieved the victim,” he said in a statement. In a separate incident, a man was reported missing and feared drowned after swimming at Pantai Teluk Batik in Seri Manjung yesterday. Shazlean said an 11-member team from the Seri Manjung fire station was deployed at 6.53am, after receiving a distress call at 6.28am. “The victim’s family informed us that he went missing after entering the water. The family was on holiday in the area and had performed a prayer ceremony before the incident. A search and rescue operation was launched using three boats from the Seri Manjung and Pangkor Island fire stations, as well as the Malaysian Maritime Enforcement Agency. We are also monitoring the shoreline and rocky areas, especially during low tide,” he added. – Bernama Former factory manager duped of RM220,000 KUANTAN: A former factory manager lost more than RM221,000 after falling victim to a phone scam in May. Pahang police chief Datuk Seri Yahaya Othman said the 59-year-old woman was first contacted by an individual posing as a hospital staff member who claimed she had made an insurance claim. The call was then connected to a “police sergeant” who accused her of involvement in bank transactions linked to money laundering and firearms purchases. “The victim was threatened that an arrest warrant would be issued if she failed to cooperate and was told to prepare bail of RM378,500. She then transferred her savings into her own bank account between Aug 1 and 9 and provided her bank card details to the suspect for investigation purposes,” Yahaya said in a statement yesterday. – Bernama

Mohd Azrie advised the public to refrain from speculation that could interfere with the investigation or cause further distress to the families involved. – Bernama

In a related development, police arrested the boy’s 36-year-old aunt to assist with the investigation. “The case is being investigated under

Bachok police deputy chief DSP Mohd Azrie Sulaiman said the man was later found hanging from a tree about 3km away.

The suspect being escorted by police to face charges in court. – BERNAMAPIC

Father of five charged with attempted murder of policemen TELUK INTAN: A man was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with attempting to murder four policemen last Saturday. Behrang Rest and Service area on the North South Expressway at about 11am on Sept 20, which left four policemen injured.

lawyer Nur Shaqira Ibrahim requested bail, arguing that her client is self-employed, the sole breadwinner and a father of five children aged two to nine. The court set bail at RM10,000 in one surety, ordered the accused to report to a police station once a month, and fixed Oct 31 for case mention. – Bernama

The charge, under Section 307(1) of the Penal Code, carries a maximum jail term of 20 years upon conviction. DPP Izzuddin Fakri Hamdan opposed bail, citing the seriousness of the offence. Defence

Mohd Ameerul Asraf Mohd Saipul, 35, pleaded not guilty after the charge was read before Judge Norhamizah Shaiffuddin. He was accused of committing the offence near a petrol station at the southbound