SHAH ALAM, Sept 13 — Political parties should avoid interfering in the appointment of editors for news organisations, in order to ensure media independence from political influences, said Tan Sri Johan Jaaffar.

PETALING JAYA, Sept 13 — A former editor-in-chief of The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd was charged on two counts of defaming a Datuk and four companies in two articles published by The Edge Malaysia weekly.