Police asked MCMC to issue takedown order to Mkini, not me - Fahmi

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has denied instructing the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to request Malaysiakini to “immediately remove” an article and video related to the alleged Sabah corruption scandal.

Instead, Fahmi said the police made the requests to MCMC.

“These requests were made by police, so as not to interfere with ongoing investigations. Not from me or my deputy (Teo Nie Ching),” the government spokesperson told Malaysiakini.

Malaysiakini is consulting its lawyer regarding MCMC’s request.

The takedown request was directed at a video that featured Tempasuk assemblyperson Arsad Bistari, who complained about a “RM70 million project being blocked” and purportedly blamed the “old team” which consisted of state finance minister Masidi Manjun.

In a letter dated Nov 16, MCMC stated that the article and video could interfere with police investigations into the death threat against the whistleblower and compromise the safety and privacy of the individual.

The video is one of four published by Malaysiakini. MCMC did not mention the other recordings.

Yesterday, Arsad claimed the video was “maliciously edited” and that he had “chatted sarcastically and informally” with the whistleblower, whom he suspected had ulterior motives.

On Nov 12, Malaysiakini reported that the whistleblower filed a police report on the death threat he received from an overseas number, through a 16-second phone call as well as photos.

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