42 witnesses summoned over Jalur Gemilang blunder

42 witnesses summoned over Jalur Gemilang blunder

SELAYANG: Police have summoned 42 people as witnesses to assist in the investigation into the Jalur Gemilang snafu on the front page of Sin Chew Daily’s newspaper earlier this week.

Deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay expected even more people to be summoned to give their statements to complete the investigation.

“Investigations are ongoing and 40 police reports have been lodged. We have also summoned 42 witnesses (to give their statements),” he said at a press conference here.

Sin Chew’s chief editor Chan Aun Kuang and deputy chief sub-editor Tsai Shwu San were detained last night as part of the probe into the illustration on its April 15 paper, which depicted the Jalur Gemilang without the crescent moon.

They were later released on police bail.

DISYORKAN UNTUK ANDA :

Chan was reportedly responsible for approving the publication of the illustration, while Tsai was the graphic designer behind the image.

The case 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.

Sin Chew had attributed the error to a “technical mistake” and promptly apologised. It also suspended Chan and Tsai from their duties indefinitely pending the outcome of investigations.

However, the blunder led to a public outcry, with youth wings from Umno and PAS urging for stern action to be taken against the Chinese-language daily over the issue.

The Centre for Independent Journalism and Urimai chairman P Ramasamy however criticised the detention of the two senior editors, saying it reflected heavy-handedness against the press.