KEPALA BATAS: Police have full discretion and authority according to the law to investigate any case, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail.
The minister said this when asked on Gerakan Media Merdeka (Geramm) and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJM)'s joint statement that 'cooperation' with any investigation by the authorities, including the police, should not involved demands for journalists to reveal the identity of a confidential source.
"I don't want to go into specific case already under police investigation.
"(But) Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain can confirm that under my leadership, the ministry and the police have full discretion and authority according to the law.
"However, what I want to emphasise is that from the perspective of journalism and the journalism world, responsible news writing is our priority.
"This means that when we write, it must be accompanied by accountability. We have responsibility and accountability not only to media stations or companies but also to the public as a whole," he told newsmen here today.
He was commenting on Geramm and NUJM's strong opposition to any actions that could jeopardise journalists' ability to safeguard the confidentiality of anonymous sources.
Geramm and NUJM said any news should not be dismissed as "untrue" or "invalid" just because they cited anonymous sources.
This came about after Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil urged journalists to assist the police with investigations concerning their sources.
On Tuesday, police opened investigations into an article published by a portal claiming that there would be a major reshuffle of Bukit Aman's top brass.
Elaborating, Saifuddin said, similarly, the ministry and the police also have the same accountability.
"So, the key message is that writing must be accompanied by responsibility and accountability.
"In this context, I don't want to touch on the specifics or my understanding of the issue," he added.
Saifuddin was met after the ministry's Sua Mesra progamme here today.
Present were Razarudin and state police chief Datuk Hamzah Ahmad.