Malaysiakini was today barred from entering a media briefing in Putrajaya organised by Pemandu on the government's on-going subsidy rationalisation plan.

This was despite a last-minute call to Malaysiakini 's office earlier today by the public relations company engaged by Pemandu to confirm the news portal’s attendance.

The Malaysiakini journalist was told at the briefing venue that he was "not allowed" to enter the hall where Pemandu chief Idris Jala and Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Ismail Sabri Yackob were to announce another round of price hikes.

The Malaysiakini journalist was later escorted out of the building by a public relations executive.

When asked, the executive said she "cannot comment" on the reason for the ban apart from saying that she was given orders from Pemandu to bar Malaysiakini .

She however did not deny the possibility of the ban being related to the Malaysiakini report today that RM66 million was spent by the government to set up Pemandu, with most of the money going to public relations firms.

Malaysiakini was the only news organisation barred from attending the briefing, which is believed to touch on further slashing of government subsidy.

PR agency apologises

Late this evening, the PR agency issued an apology to Malaysiakini for what had transpired earlier today.

“In this case, Pemandu was not aware of the presence of Malaysiakini's attendance and did not make the call as such to decline the journalist,” said the agency’s spokesperson.

“Due to a miscommunication on our end, our PR executive denied entry to Malaysiakini journalist. She also did not fully understand the questions posed to her, and she is also not an authorised spokesperson for Pemandu.”

It is learnt the subsidy rationalisation exercise, the second this year, involves petrol, diesel, gas and sugar.

This included RON95 petrol, which will go up by 5 sen - two days after a 15 sen hike in RON97 petrol.

The last round of price increase was on July 15 which affected five key items involving the two different grades of petrol, diesel, sugar and gas.

McKinsey paid RM36 mil to set up Pemandu