MCMC asked social media platforms to remove Sabah graft content: Fahmi

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has instructed social media platform operators to remove video and audio content related to the alleged Sabah corruption scandal.

According to Harian Metro, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the MCMC received removal requests from the police and MACC.

Fahmi said this is because it could compromise the police and MACC’s investigations into the alleged corruption of several Sabah assemblypersons and a death threat to the whistleblower.

“In response to requests from the MACC and police to take down the videos, the MCMC has instructed social media platform operators to remove the circulated content.

“This is because the dissemination of these videos could undermine investigations involving the assemblyperson in question,” he was quoted after attending an event in Bukit Aman today.

He added that the MCMC was not involved in the investigation itself but had jurisdiction over videos uploaded to social media.

Yesterday, Malaysiakini reported that the MCMC had requested the portal to “immediately remove” an article and video related to the alleged Sabah corruption scandal.

Malaysiakini is consulting its lawyer regarding MCMC’s request.

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

READ MORE: Sabah reps' alleged corruption videos: What has happened so far

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.

When asked by Malaysiakini yesterday, Fahmi denied instructing MCMC to request that the web portal remove the article and video.

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

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

Arsad had 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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