Our former editor-in-chief (EIC) Azam Aris, who passed the baton to me about 10 months ago, was charged with criminal defamation under Section 500 of the Penal Code last Tuesday. Being the EIC, it is one of my responsibilities to ensure robust journalism continues to be practised here. DGB Asia Bhd, MNC Wireless Bhd, Trive Property Bhd and Metronic Global Bhd were among these companies. Indeed, there have been very few instances of anyone being charged with criminal defamation — a colonial relic. Still, will what has happened to Azam force us to stop our investigative reporting?
