KULAI: Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd and Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd can appeal against the RM100,000 fine imposed by Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), says Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching

“The newspapers can appeal if they feel that the RM100,000 fine is too harsh,’’ said Teo.

However, Teo said she is not sure of the time frame to appeal.

Teo, who is also Kulai member of parliament, told reporters during a visit to the Sinar Harapan Kulai Project site at Taman Impian Senai on Friday night.

Sin Chew Media Corporation Bhd and Sinar Karangkraf Sdn Bhd were fined RM100,000 each by MCMC over an incomplete flag illustration and an error in the profile of Inspector-General of Police.

The Malaysian Media Council (MMM) said the fines were excessive and disproportionate as enforcement must be applied with fairness and balance while acknowledging the importance of accuracy and the need to respect national symbols.

Meanwhile, PAS secretary-general Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan has described the RM100,000 fine as an attempt by the government to bully media.

This may create a culture of self-censorship curbing press freedom in its role as the fourth pillar of democracy, he said in a statement. 

The immediate actions taken by Sin Chew Daily and Sinar Harian to issue public apologies and the retraction of the inaccurate reports indicated that they are both accountable as long-established media organizations, he said.

“In the publishing industry, an apology is a form of punishment since it affects the credibility and integrity of the newspapers in the eyes of the readers.

“A recurring mistake is only deemed as a serious offence which deserves such harsh penalty by MCMC,’’ he said.

The internal actions taken by MMM as the regulatory body of the media industry are sufficient to ensure that journalists are accountable, ethical, responsible and compliant with law, he said.

The role of MMM as a tribunal to receive and investigate complaints against media and its reports must be respected.

Any contrary action would only undermine the status, role, and purpose for which MMM was established, he said.

Senator Vincent Wu Him Ven, in a statement, said both incidents were inadvertent mistakes where Sin Chew Daily and Sinar Harian had apologized immediately with internal disciplinary action.

Wu, who is also a central executive committee member of DAP, said he feared that this could set a precedent infringing press freedom in Malaysia which may affect media in monitoring the government and public institutions.

He called for the government to have a set of standard procedures in handling the matter to avoid unnecessary disputes and strike a balance between press freedom and national sovereignty.