KUALA LUMPUR, March 30 – Chief of the Malaysian Tamil Press Association, S. Muthameez Manan has condemned the arrest of news portal Tamil Thinathanti’s journalist, Kalidas Subramaniom today by the police at the Kulim District headquarters.
He is said to have been arrested for having trespassed while covering a story on illegal immigrants in the area.
According to Anegun Tamil portal, Manan, who is also a board member of the Malaysian Media Council, had already raised the matter with Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil, who had reportedly said that he would look into the matter.
Thinathanti’s director, Pavalaselvan Marimuthu, confirmed the incident, saying he was informed of the arrest around 3pm.
Earlier on March 26 this year, Kalidas had gone to the Kulim Hi-Tech Park (KHTP) with several other media members, activists and representatives from several non governmental organisations. They were there to do a coverage on allegations that more than 300 foreigners were working in the area without any legal documents.
Pavalaselvan expressed shock over the arrest of his reporter, saying they were not bloggers or influencers but media personnel registered with the Information Department and carried legitimate press cards.
— WE