SUSAN LOONE THE JOURNALIST On 4 September 2014, police arrested Susan Loone, a journalist with online news portal Malaysiakini.com, for investigation under Section 4(1)(c) of the Sedition Act for an interview she did with Penang State executive councilor Phee Boone Poh while he was in police custody. Susan Loone was the first reporter to be arrested under the Sedition Act. Other journalists and publishers have subsequently been arrested for articles alleged to be seditious. Phee Boone Poh was detained by the police for 24 hours because of his chairmanship of the state Voluntary Patrol Unit (PPS, Pasukan Peronda Sukarela), often involved in traffic control and safety, which had been declared illegal by the police as it was not registered with the Registrar of Societies. Phee Boone Poh and 155 PPS members were arrested after taking part in an independence day parade on 31 August 2014. The police informed Phee Boone Poh that he was being investigated under Section 43 of the Societies Act 1966, which involves operating a secret society. In Susan Loone’s interview with Phee Boone Poh. he described how he was questioned for four hours and “treated like a criminal”. The interview led right-wing pressure group Perkasa and 13 other NGOs to lodge ten reports to the police against Susan Loone and Malaysiakini for allegedly defaming the police. NEWS AOVERRRANEINSTETRVIEEWD STATE SHE DID WITH PENANG R LO CI UN CO E EXECUTIV HE ILE WH H PO E ON BO PHEE Y. OD ST CU E LIC WAS UNDER PO According to Susan Loone, her article had reportedly angered the InspectorGeneral of Police and the police force because it cast them in a bad light. She was told by the police that her article was objectionable because it was widely accessible online. The police allegedly said to her that “if the story was published in local papers it doesn’t matter as only local people will read it.” ALLEGEDLY DEFAMIN THE POLICGE It is an indication of the chilling effect of the Sedition Act that Susan Loone feels that her fellow journalists have censored themselves as a result of her arrest. “My reporter friends get a bit fearful that they will suffer the same thing.” Personally, she is undeterred. Following her arrest, Susan Loone was held for close to nine hours during which she was questioned. To her surprise, during her questioning, she was asked her opinion of the political opposition. She protested that she had: “No opinion, just the facts. It’s not important what I think. Just the facts.” She was released on RM2,000 (USD450) bail, but the case has been left unresolved as the authorities have so far not filed charges against Loone, nor have they told her that she has been cleared. However, her article has had negative consequences for her work. Susan Loone’s news portal, Malaysiakini, has been refused a print publishing permit by the Home Ministry, with the Ministry citing her article as one reason. © Malaysiakini “If writing the truth, asking questions, taking a minister to task or making a powerful figure accountable are seditious, then let us all be seditious!” CRITICAL CRACKDOWN: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER ATTACK IN MALAYSIA 7