Envoy calls for factual reporting by Indonesian media over Nurul Izzah's arrest

Malaysia's Ambassador to Indonesia Datuk Seri Zahrain Mohamed Hashim today urged the Indonesian media to refrain from writing biased reports based on an allegation by Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar that she was detained for political revenge.

He stressed that the allegation was not true because the Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, had explained in a statement that Nurul Izzah was detained for investigation under the Sedition Act for having allegedly made various accusations at a recent gathering in Kuala Lumpur.

"She was detained for allegedly criticising the judiciary at the gathering and it had nothing to do with the debate in the Dewan Rakyat (Parliament) as reported by the media in this country," he said in an interview with 'Tempo

News' here.

The media had described Nurul Izzah as the 'Malaysian Queen of Reform' and cited her allegation that she had been detained without reason and that it was a revenge by the government as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was fearful of the disclosures about the (strategic development company) 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in the Dewan Rakyat.

Zahrain said Nurul Izzah was actually detained for investigation in accordance with the rule of law and she had been released on police bail.

He said no one should dispute the laws of a country because enforcing the laws was the sovereign right of that country.

"All parties must respect the laws of a country and the media should make reports based on facts and not mislead anyone," he said.

Zahrain said Nurul Izzah was actually trying to defend her father, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, by blaming the government.

Anwar, the PKR advisor and Opposition Leader, was sentenced to five years in prison after he was convicted for sodomy, an offence in Malaysia.

"In some countries sodomy may not be an offence but in Malaysia it is, so we cannot make a comparison of the laws between countries," Zahrain said.