I am urging the police to exercise restraint, caution and understanding in handling Farah Naz Karim’s case.

Farah Naz is merely exercising her right as the group editor of the New Straits Times in allowing a series of expose of a Mossad operation in Malaysia.

In fact, Farah Naz and the newspaper should be commended for exposing such an operation.

Journalists’ right to act as eyes and ears of the public must not be jeopardised.  She and her colleagues must be allowed to operate without fear and favour especially when it involved matters of national interest and security. After all a free press is critical to ensure a functioning democracy.  

It is shocking to know how Israeli operatives are operating in this country. The fact that they were planning to abduct two high-value Palestinians here is disturbing.

We are a sovereign nation and no country, let alone Israel, has the right to operate under such circumstances.

It was also revealed that Mossad were using locals to kidnap the Palestinians.

The Interior Minister and the police must ensure the public that such clandestine operation is totally unacceptable and must be condemned.



Media Statement by Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar, Veteran Journalist, National Journalism Laureate

** The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the position of Astro AWANI.