Tengku Adnan blames the press for no coverage of Umno assembly

Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor is blaming the press over the decision to limit coverage during the party’s general assembly. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, November 25, 2015. 

Umno will restrict media coverage during its general assembly next month on grounds that online news portals have a habit of spinning news stories, the party's secretary-general Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor was reported as saying.

He said Umno vice-presidents Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein would hold daily press conferences to update the media on the goings-on and issues raised at the meetings.

“Because you online portals like twisting (stories)…,” he was quoted as saying by Malaysiakini.

“We will not allow (the press) to wander around. We will not even broadcast what is going on in the halls.”

Still under consideration was whether the media would be allowed to cover the opening speech by party president Datuk Seri Najib Razak's and the closing speeches.

The Umno General Assembly will be held at the Merdeka Plaza in Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, from December 8 to 12.

It was reported earlier that the mainstream media, even ones linked to Umno such as Utusan Malaysia and New Straits Times, would be barred from covering the proceedings.

This move comes as Najib, who is also the prime minister, continues to face harsh criticisms, including from within his party, over his handling of debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) and the RM2.6 billion found in his personal accounts.

His biggest detractor – former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad – has been pushing for Najib's resignation and recently complained that there were efforts to shut him up‎ and prevent him from meeting Umno members as well as the public during the assembly.

Dr Mahathir had said no halls were available for him to speak in, as owners were afraid they would be punished by the government, adding that the assembly would not be open to the public and not all the delegates’ speeches would be broadcast.

- TMI