Malaysian defense minister warns PHL media of lawsuits over 'wrong' reports

A Malaysian minister on Tuesday warned Philippine news organizations that they can be sued for "wrong" reports on the ongoing Malaysian offensives against followers of Jamalul Kiram III, whose claim on Sabah has turned violent. Recent reports in news media in the Philippines said that Filipino civilians in Sabah were being maltreated by Malaysian security forces. The civilians were allegedly being dragged out of their houses, ordered to run, and then shot at. On Sunday, the Philippine Department of Foreign Affairs expressed concern over such reports and had asked Malaysia for a clarification. Both Philippine media and diplomatic officials have been kept far from the action in Sabah by Malaysian authorities, creating a vacuum of information where Malaysian forces have been the only source of information. Malaysian forces had been hunting down Kiram's followers since a series of deadly clashes last March 1. Malaysia had rejected Kiram's offer of a unilateral ceasefire. "I hope (the Philippine media) will exercise caution and write only the truth," said Defense Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in a Bernama news agency report. Zahid warned that individuals "who felt that the Philippine media reports were wrong could sue the media." Furthermore, "inaccurate" reports could "undermine" diplomatic ties between Manila and Kuala Lumpur. Hamidi also reiterated that Malaysian security forces "had not been high-handed in firing at or killing like the Sulu terrorists." — DVM/HS, GMA News