SNAPSHOT | Esscom: No Sulu invasion; Fahmi says govt 'not in the mood to control media'

KINI SNAPSHOT | What’s going on in the news today, with updates at 11am, 2pm, and 6pm.

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11am

Security 

• There was no incident involving a group of armed Sulu men entering Semporna and Lahad Datu, Sabah, as claimed in a viral social media post, said Eastern Sabah Security Command (Esscom) commander Victor Sanjos.

  “The viral post is untrue and we are aware of the photographs uploaded on social media... so far, the situation remains under control and our monitoring is ongoing to detect any threats or suspicious activities that could jeopardise the safety of residents and the waters of eastern Sabah,” Bernama reported him saying.

  Esscom continues to monitor and maintain security, particularly in the waters and strategic locations within the Eastern Sabah Safety Zone, Victor (above) added.

Media freedom

• Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the government has no intention of controlling the media as it respects media freedom in line with the principles championed by PKR.

  However, he stressed that it would not remain silent if the media published inaccurate information.

  “Some have asked why Fahmi does not control TV? Ladies and gentlemen, my comrades… we were born on the streets… we were born fighting against rulers who directed, ordered and forced people to do all sorts of things to our president.

  “Do we want to repeat such tyranny? Of course not… we are not in the ‘mood’ to control the media,” Malaysia Gazette reported him saying at the PKR national congress in Malacca.

  

  The PKR information chief said the government will engage media organisations in an orderly and courteous manner if there are concerns over inaccurate information.

Religious statue desecration

• Police said they will investigate a viral post involving damaged statues at a non-Muslim place of worship in Bentong, despite no police report having been lodged as of yesterday.

  The public have been urged to provide any information that could assist the investigation.

  Yesterday, a viral message claimed that three Hindu statues at the Brahmarishi Hill Temple in Bukit Tinggi were damaged.

  The damage was reportedly discovered at about 10.30am yesterday, although it was not known when the incident occurred.

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