Malaysia expels correspondent for 'security' reasons
Malaysia expels correspondent for 'security' reasons
KUALA LUMPUR (AFP): Inter Press Service (IPS), an international news group, yesterday protested the Malaysian government's expulsion of its correspondent over an article deemed by Kuala Lumpur to be a threat to national security.
IPS, in a letter to Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, strongly protested the deportation of Filipina Leah Palma Makabenta, who was given 48 hours to leave Malaysia, after her work pass was canceled on April 1 by the director-general of immigration.
Her work permit was to have expired on April 12.
"The reason cited was an unspecified article which was deemed to be a threat to national security," the IPS' regional office for Asia-Pacific in Manila, said in a statement released here.
A home ministry source said Makabenta had been given several warnings before she was finally given the boot. But the source could not elaborate on the article which prompted her expulsion.
Malaysian immigration officials could not be reached for comment.
IPS urged Mahathir, who is also home minister, to intervene and restore the work permit of Makabenta, who has been an editor for IPS since 1991 at the agency's regional office in Manila.
"Makabenta has served as Kuala Lumpur correspondent for the past two years, during which she has carried out her duties in the highest traditions of the profession," the statement said.
IPS said Makabenta was not given the right to reply after she was given a show-cause letter by the director-general of immigration here on March 25, giving her seven days to explain why her work permit should not be canceled.
"Her letter asking for details on the article in question went unanswered, her permit canceled on April 1, and she was given 48 hours to leave the country," IPS said.
Kunda Dixit, the IPS's Manila-based regional director for Asia-Pacific, expressed his regret March 30 over the Malaysian government's refusal to renew Makabenta's work permit.
Disturbed
In a letter to Malaysia's deputy home minister, Megat Junid Ayub, Dixit said IPS was most disturbed by the lack of explanation for the move.
IPS is a Third World news agency and international communications organization, which specializes in the coverage of issues relevant to developing countries.
"In fact, our reason for establishing a bureau in Kuala Lumpur was precisely a recognition of Malaysia's strong voice and leadership role in the South Commission and the G-15 (group of 15 developing countries)," Dixit said.
"We find the Malaysian government's action to cancel Makabenta's work permit all the more puzzling," Dixit said, while appealing to the government to reconsider the move.
In 1986, the Malaysian government was widely criticized for the expulsion of two Kuala Lumpur-based correspondents of the Asian Wall Street Journal for unspecified reasons.
Kuala Lumpur revoked the work permits of the journal's two correspondents, John Berthelsen and Raphael Pura.