Fahmi, who is also the government’s spokesman, also appealed to those involved in the investigation to cooperate with the police.

“But as I have said, the ministry respects the media’s right to protect their whistleblowers. However, there are existing laws,” he said, when asked to comment on the investigation into Malaysiakini.

Yesterday, Kuala Lumpur police chief Rusdi Isa said they were investigating a news portal over its report alleging that deputy inspector-general of police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay and the federal criminal investigation department’s director Shuhaily Zain would be transferred.

Rusdi said the case is being investigated under Section 505 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Section 505 deals with statements made with the intent to cause fear or alarm to the public.

Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act, meanwhile, prohibits the use of network facilities to transmit communications deemed offensive or likely to cause annoyance to another person.

Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain has since dismissed Malaysiakini’s report, which had quoted unnamed sources.

In February, Fahmi had said that while media organisations had the right to protect the identity of their sources, they were also responsible for verifying the information provided.