HRD Corp drops lawsuit threat against two other news portals

• UPDATED 3.30PM | Added letter of demand to freelance journalist retracted.

The Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has withdrawn its letter of demand against two news portals.

The letter of demand withdrawn against The Malaysian Insight and The Vibes was over reports on audit findings critical of HRD Corp.

“We are instructed by HRD Corp to retract the said letter of demand on July 15,” law firm Amrit & Company said, as reported by The Vibes.

Petra News owns both TMI and The Vibes.

On Tuesday, it was reported that HRD Corp was threatening to sue The Edge over its reports on the matter.

Like The Edge, the company had wanted TMI to remove its articles on the audit report and issue an apology.

However, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim announced yesterday that he had instructed HRD Corp to withdraw the letter of demand against The Edge, citing media freedom.

HRD Corp has come under scrutiny after a report by the National Audit Department flagged the company for mismanaging hundreds of millions of ringgit in training grants, investments, and property purchases.

It is unclear as of writing whether the letter of demand against freelance journalist M Krishnamoorthy over the same issue has also been dropped.

When contacted by Malaysiakini later today, a counsel for the law firm confirmed that they have retracted the legal letter against Krishnamoorthy, as instructed by HRD Corp.

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