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KUALA LUMPUR (April 17): Sin Chew Daily's editor-in-chief and deputy chief sub-editor were released on police bail on Thursday night after being detained for nearly five hours.
According to the Chinese-language newspaper, its editor-in-chief Chan Aun Kuang and deputy chief sub-editor Tsai Shwu San were detained at 4.45pm on Thursday.
They were then brought back to Sin Chew Daily’s headquarters at 6pm for investigation. Police also seized the computer used to produce the incomplete image of the Jalur Gemilang that appeared on the paper’s front page on April 15.
Both of them were released on bail at 9.20pm.
Earlier, Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed the duo had been detained to assist in investigations.
“We detained them for questioning and brought them to the office to retrieve computers and other items related to the case for further investigation," he told Bernama briefly when contacted, adding that they would be released later on bail.
The issue, for which police have received 40 reports nationwide, is being investigated under Section 3(1)(c) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.
Section 3(1)(c) deals with the prohibition of improper use of emblems, names and pictorial representations in the title of any patent, trademark or design without the written permission from the minister. Anyone found guilty of this can be fined up to RM1,000.
Section 4(1)(b) deals with the unlawful use of printing press to produce or publish anything that contains incitement to violence against persons or property, counsels disobedience to the law, or is likely to lead to breach of the peace or promote feelings of ill-will, hostility, hatred, disharmony or disunity. If found guilty, one can be jailed up to three years or fined up to RM20,000 or both.
Sin Chew Daily has drawn heavy criticism after publishing an illustration of a Jalur Gemilang without its crescent moon on its front page on April 15, in conjunction with coverage of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia.
The King of Malaysia, Sultan Ibrahim, condemned the error as unacceptable and urged the newspaper’s management and editorial team to be more careful and thoroughly vet materials before publication.
Sin Chew Daily, who issued an immediate apology over the issue, explaining the error was technical and unintentional, on Thursday said the two editors have been suspended with immediate effect, pending the outcome of the investigation.