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By Mihar Dias (C) Copyright May 2024
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's recent call for action against Bloomberg news agency over a report on alleged plans to build a casino complex has left many scratching their heads.
In a move reminiscent of a child caught with their hand in the cookie jar, Anwar referred to the report as a "lie" and demanded action against those mentioned, without offering any substantial evidence to support his claims.
The report, which cited anonymous sources, claimed that Anwar met with top executives from Berjaya Corporation and Genting Group to discuss the potential casino complex at the Forest City project in Johor.
Both companies have vehemently denied the meeting ever took place, with Berjaya Corporation going as far as filing a police report to determine the identity of the alleged sources quoted in the report.
Anwar's government, elected on a reformist platform, should be focusing on pressing issues facing the nation, not chasing shadows and threatening the press. The move to intimidate the press harkens back to Malaysia's authoritarian past and raises questions about the government's commitment to freedom of the press and transparency.
Furthermore, the threat of criminal libel penalties for those involved in the report only serves to stifle investigative journalism and hinder the public's right to information. Anwar should take a step back, retract his call for action, and allow the press to report on issues of national importance without fear of reprisal.
As for Perikatan Nasional information chief Mohamed Azmin Ali's question about why Anwar hasn't lodged a police report against Bloomberg if the report is untrue, perhaps the answer lies in the lack of substance behind Anwar's claims.
Instead of engaging in a witch hunt against the press, Anwar should focus on addressing the real concerns of the people and upholding the principles of a free and independent press.
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