KUALA LUMPUR: Veteran journalist Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar has called on the police to exercise restrain, caution and understanding in handling the New Straits Times' (NST) exposé on Israeli clandestine operation to abduct high value Palestinians here.
Touching on reports that NST group editor Farrah Naz Karim had been called in to have her statement recorded over exclusive stories regarding the abduction, he said the newspaper should be commended for exposing such an operation.
"Farrah Naz is merely exercising her right as the group editor of the NST in allowing a series of exposé of a Mossad operation in Malaysia.
"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," he said in a statement.
Johan said it was shocking to know how Israeli operatives were operating in the country.
He said the fact that they were planning to abduct two high-value Palestinians here was disturbing.
"We are a sovereign nation and no country, let alone Israel, has the right to operate under such circumstances.
"The Home Minister and police must assure the public that such clandestine operations are totally unacceptable and are to be condemned."
Last night, the Dang Wangi police headquarters contacted Farrah and had summoned her to appear there at 1pm today.
This came after the NST exposed how an operation by Mossad - the Israeli intelligence agency - to abduct two Palestinians unfolded at Jalan Yap Kuan Seng on Sept 28.
The exposé revealed that a group of Malaysians, including a women, had acted as Israeli operatives to abduct two high-value Palestinians, said to be linked to Hamas who are based here.
However, one of the victims escaped and lodged a police report, leading the police to bust the operation and rescue the other victim.
Johan, therefore, urged the police and the Home Ministry to assure the public that such clandestine operations on Malaysian soil are totally unacceptable and must be condemned.