Al Jazeera’s License And Accreditation With Finas To Be Checked By Communications Ministry
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International media outlet Al Jazeera which produced the controversial Locked Up In Malaysia’s Lockdown documentary will be checked if they have an appropriate license for production with the National Film Development Corporation (Finas).
What you need to know: The production of films and documentaries in the country requires a permit from Finas. If Al Jazeera had a license for the documentary, then the situation will be fine. If they did not apply for a license, then it is considered an offence.
Additionally, as Al Jazeera is a news outlet, they will need to be accredited with a media license (the “media pass” given to news outlets). KKMM, through the information department, will be checking whether Al Jazeera met accreditation conditions in shooting the documentary.
Who said what: Minister of Communications and Multimedia Datuk Saifudin Abdullah says that if Al Jazeera is found to have been infringing accreditation conditions, their accreditation facilities will be cancelled and Al Jazeera crew will not be able to conduct media-based work without their media passes.
Why it matters: The government has painted Al Jazeera’s documentary as malicious, which has led to this investigation over the documentary under the Sedition Act. However, civil society organisations have stood in solidarity with Al Jazeera, calling on the government to respect media freedom and independence. Threatening to remove Al Jazeera’s media license teeters dangerously into suppression of news and censorship.
Read more:
Al Jazeera Defends Documentary Filmed During Lockdown in Malaysia [TRP]
Al Jazeera Documentary Backlash: 5 Important Things You Need To Know [TRP]
Controversial Arrests, Charges & Investigations Under PN (So Far) [TRP]
Civil society organisations stand in solidarity with Al Jazeera, media freedom [The Sun]
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