Two Tamil dailies, Makkal Osai and Tamil Nesan, had published Kapar MP S. Manikavasagam’s claims on Saturday that an officer at MACC had told him that files related to the three reports lodged by the Kampung Perepat pioneers, as well as the one he had personally filed last year, had gone missing.

An infuriated Manikavasagam, who had gone to the Selangor MACC office last Friday with a group of about 10 pioneers, then lodged another report, asking the MACC to, among others, probe how Temporary Occupation Licence (TOL) agricultural plots in Kapar had been transferred to the names of a Datuk, his family members and business associates by the Klang Land Office within 24 hours.

But, on Monday, after Malay Mail frontpaged the issue, Selangor MACC officers not only conducted a four-hour enquiry on the Malay Mail reporter, Nevash Nair, but also confiscated his handphone and laptop.

Makkal Osai news editor BR Rajan said the commision should investigate the real issue instead of  interrogating the reporter alone.

“The reporter was merely reporting the plight of the complainants and what was said by the MP. This is simply intimidating the reporter who is just doing his job and carrying out his responsibility of helping the public.”

A spokesman for Tamil Nesan said it was fine for a reporter to be called to assist in investigations. But by confiscating the phone and laptop, "it did not seem like the reporter was called to assist in investigations".

It is learnt that till now, no reporter from both the dailies had been picked up nor had any been contacted by MACC to be questioned.