Sivarasa charged over fake Time cover on Najib, claims trial

PKR Subang MP R Sivarasa has pleaded not guilty and claimed trial to two charges under the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

This is over the doctored Time magazine cover he posted on his Facebook account featuring Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak with the words "No. 2 on the most corrupt list", though the post was taken down later the same day, after he was informed it was fake.

"I think this is a complete overreaction to a small matter," Sivarasa said to reporters after being charged iin a Sessions Court in Kuala Lumpur today.

Both the charges are under Section 233(1)(a) of the Communications and Multimedia Act, for improper use of network facilities to "create and initiate the transmission of false communication with the intent to annoy another person".

Despite that, Sivarasa said the charges against him would highlight the corruption issues surrounding 1MDB, as that was the core substance behind the Time magazine cover.

While the cover is fake, it was based on a genuine Time magazine article in March which focused on global corruption, he said.

Malaysia appears second in Time's list of corruption scandals, after Brazil, and before South Africa, China and Russia.

The list does not appear to be ranked in a particular order, but instead gives examples of how each country's corruption scandals lend insights into its politics.

However, the article's description of Malaysia is still unflattering, compared with that of other countries on the list.

It zoomed in on the 1MDB scandal, and issues surrounding the alleged RM2.6 billion donation into Najib's personal bank accounts.

"It (the fake cover) was based on the actual article in Time magazine, which has not been challenged at all up to today by the prime minister.

"He has not even replied to the allegations by Time and he has not instructed his lawyers to take legal action. So the statements in the Time article remain unchallenged," Sivarasa said outside the court.

Najib has maintained he did not abuse public funds, while attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali has cleared him of any wrongdoing. -Mkini