In Malaysia, business reporters interrogated for hours

Securities Commission gets rough with journos. Ms BK Sidhu, the Star's seasoned business journalist, was hauled in for questioning for eight straight hours on Wednesday. This is unprecedented. Another journalist Azlan Abu Bakar from the Business Times went in the next day. Two other journalists, Dalila Abu Bakar (not related to Azlan) and Ishun P. Ahmad of The Malaysian Reserve, will get their turn on Monday.

Their "crime"?

All have been reporting on Kenmark lately. This company saw the re-emergence of controversial corporate player Ishak Ismail of the KFC fame recently. We know the SC and Ishak have crossed swords, the latest just last week when the SC obtained an ex parte injunction against Ishak here.

Malaysian journos don't normally mind being at the wrong end of an interrogation. We don't turn our backs if we know we can help in an investigation, especially if it's to solve a crime. But no need for the high-handedness lah. The SC investigating officers must also remember that journalists not only have the

responsibility of telling the truth but they also need to protect their sources. If we don't protect our sources, who'd want to talk to us? And if people don't talk to us, how are we going to our job?

pixs of Ishak and SC chairman Zarinah Anwar.