MCMC tells news portal to remove content on Sabah bribery case

PETALING JAYA: The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) has urged online news portal Malaysiakini to take down an article and video related to allegations of corruption involving the issuance of state mining licences.

According to Malaysiakini, the letter from MCMC dated yesterday claimed that the article and video could interfere in the police probe into the alleged death threat against the purported whistleblower.

The MCMC also said the article and video could compromise the safety and privacy of the complainant.

Last Wednesday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain confirmed that the alleged whistleblower who sent an open letter to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on the alleged bribery had received a death threat.

Razarudin said the case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code which deals with “criminal intimidation through anonymous communication”.

The video in question featured footage of Tempasuk assemblyman Arsad Bistari, who spoke about a “RM70 million project being blocked” and allegedly blamed the “old team”, which reportedly includes state finance minister Masidi Manjun.

Yesterday, Arsad said his remarks made in the video allegedly linked to the Sabah assemblymen’s corruption case were made in jest.

He claimed the recording was edited and circulated with malicious intent, adding that he was “already aware” of the ill intentions of the person he was conversing with.

He said that he suspected the person he met with had other intentions and, based on that assumption, he had “communicated with him sarcastically and informally”.

The video clip that surfaced showed Arsad purportedly discussing a project with a person who was also recording the conversation.

It was the third such video – the other two allegedly featuring Kemabong assemblyman Rubin Balang and an audio recording said to be that of Sindumin assemblyman Yusof Yacob.

The recordings were disclosed by the whistleblower before they were published by Malaysiakini.

Arsad said although it was a casual conversation, it had been manipulated to portray him in a negative light.

Arsad also denied allegations that he blamed Masidi and Sabah chief minister Hajiji Noor for blocking his project, saying that the matter was deliberately distorted.

He said this included claims that the assemblymen for Kawang, Pantai Dalit, Tanjung Batu and Labuk were involved, as mentioned in the conversation.

Yesterday, it was reported that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission had recorded statements from Sabah deputy chief minister Shahelmey Yahya and two assemblymen, Arsad and Rubin, over the allegations of corruption involving the issuance of state mining licences.

Hajiji has since said he had nothing to hide and called on MACC to investigate the case.