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Key Highlights
MCMC vs Malaysiakini
Hajiji cries coup
'Zionist' Anwar
Daim passes away
MCMC vs Malaysiakini
The Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission issued a takedown notice to Malaysiakini over an article and video regarding the ongoing corruption scandal.
This was over an article in which Tempasuk assemblyperson Mohd Arsad Bistari is heard seemingly blaming Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor for blocking a lucrative project.
The MCMC claimed that the article could disrupt police investigations on criminal intimidation - most likely referring to a police probe on a death threat made against the whistleblower.
However, it did not explain how these two things were connected.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said neither he nor his deputy Teo Nie Ching were involved in the takedown request.
Meanwhile, Malaysiakini and other online media may soon face another threat as the Home Ministry is reportedly looking to extend press licensing requirements under the Printing Presses and Publications Act to online media.
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Hajiji cries coup
Sabah Chief Minister Hajiji Noor believes that the exposés on alleged corruption involving pro-government assemblypersons are aimed at weakening the state government.
While claiming that the GRS-led government was still "solid", he called on GRS members to go all-out to fight slander before people were "poisoned" to hate his administration.
Former Sabah Mineral Management (SMM) chief executive officer Jonith Enggihon claimed to have evidence that Hajiji "abused his power".
Separately, the MACC has received a report about the whistleblower in the case, and has also questioned five assemblypersons over the alleged corruption.
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'Zionist' Anwar
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim came under fire for allegedly defending Israel's right to exist.
In a CNN interview, Anwar was asked by the host: “Does Israel have the right to exist and defend itself?”
Anwar briefly responded, “Yes".
Anwar later clarified that he was speaking about Israel's existence as a country in the context of the international system.
However, he stressed that Malaysia does not recognise Israel.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil claimed that the viral video about the prime minister's answer had been "edited".
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Daim passes away
Former finance minister Daim Zainuddin passed away on Wednesday morning at the age of 86.
Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim - who had been very critical of Daim - issued a statement saying that the government recognised the latter's contributions.
Dr Mahathir Mohamad on the other hand lamented how Daim was the victim of "vengeful vilification”, in reference to the corruption probe against the tycoon.
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Views that matter
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