Farrah Naz: It is the duty of the press to keep the public informed

SHAH ALAM - Detailed reports of Mossad’s operations to abduct Palestinians in Malaysia are part and parcel of investigative journalism despite leaving some feeling uneasy.

New Straits Times Group Editor Farrah Naz Karim who produced the series of exposés said it was part of her duty as a member of the press, adding that her session with the police earlier today had gone “well”.

“The police officer assigned to take my statement acted professionally throughout the four-hour session.

“I maintained that it is the duty of the press to keep the people informed,” she told Sinar Daily.

Farrah Naz said the police were concerned as to how NST managed to get a detailed account of the abduction plot.

She said that this was part and parcel of investigative journalism and to produce detailed reports, even if it may end up being uncomfortable for some.

“We have sworn to perform our duties without fear or favour and this was exactly what had happened in the series of exposés published,” she said.

Farrah Naz was summoned by the police last night at 9.45pm telling her to appear at the Dang Wangi police headquarters at 1pm today.

The English newspaper had exposed how a Mossad operation to abduct two Palestinians unfolded at Jalan Yap Kwan Seng on Sept 28.

It was revealed that a group of locals including a woman had acted as Israeli operatives to abduct two high-value Palestinians, said to be linked to the Hamas based here.

However, things took a wrong turn when they only managed to capture one of the Palestinians while the other escaped and immediately lodged a police report.

Immediate action by the police led them to a chalet in Hulu Langat, where the squad walked into an on-going interrogation by Israeli men via a video call.

The abducted Palestinian was found tied up to a chair and badly beaten up.