Kuala Lumpur: The Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Sub-Editor of Sin Chew Daily were detained today to assist in investigations concerning the publication of an incomplete illustration of the Jalur Gemilang on the newspaper’s front page. The incident occurred in the context of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Malaysia, which the illustration was meant to accompany.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Razarudin Husain confirmed the detention, stating that the individuals were held for further questioning. The police also retrieved computers and other related items from the Sin Chew Daily office to aid the investigation. The editors were released later in the evening at 8.20 pm.

Earlier in the day, the Chief Editor and Deputy Chief Sub-Editor spent three hours at the Classified Criminal Investigation Unit office at the Royal Malaysia Police Headquarters in Bukit Aman, where their statements were recorded. The Chief Editor was responsible for approving the publication, while the Deputy Chief Sub-Editor designed the graphic.

Razarudin further explained that the police have received 40 reports nationwide regarding this issue. The case is being investigated under Section 3(1)(c) of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act 1963 and Section 4(1)(b) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

The publication of the incomplete illustration has sparked criticism from various quarters, including His Majesty Sultan Ibrahim, King of Malaysia, who emphasized the need for careful vetting of materials by the newspaper’s management and editorial department. In response to the backlash, Sin Chew Daily issued an apology, attributing the incident to a technical error and stating it was unintentional.