Worse to come, says Malaysiakini boss

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan says Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is going after all remaining critics, following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's block of The Malaysian Insider. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, February 27, 2016.

Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan says worse will come, following the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission's (MCMC) recent clampdown on The Malaysian Insider.

Speaking to The Weekend Australian, Gan said Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was now "on the offensive" after MCMC blocked TMI over content that was allegedly a national security threat under Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

TMI had on Thursday published a report quoting a member of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) Operations Review Panel (ORP) who had spoken on condition of anonymity, saying MACC should resubmit its investigation papers on SRC International Sdn Bhd to the attorney-general as there was enough evidence to frame charges against Najib.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak later said TMI was blocked because the report had caused confusion among people.

Gan told The Weekend Australian that Malaysiakini had also run stories related to SRC International, adding that the news portal would likely be the government's next target.

"This is like China," he was quoted as saying.

"Najib has bolstered his position now to the extent that I think he’s feeling quite secure within the (ruling Umno) party and so is now going after all the remaining ­critics out there.

"He’s on the offensive now and we are all getting ready for more to come."

Yesterday, police and MCMC took the statements of five TMI journalists – editor Jahabar Sadiq, managing editor Lionel Morais, assistant news editor V. Anbalagan and sub-editors Abdar Rahman Koya and Srihanasham Noordin.

They were investigated under Section 124 (i) of the Penal Code, Section 8 (a) of the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

Jahabar later told reporters outside the police headquarters that TMI stood by the report under investigation.

"We leave it to the authorities to investigate the matter.

"We stand by our article and we will cooperate with them on whatever they wish to investigate," he said.

"We still have not been contacted by MCMC as to why they have blocked access to the website and for what reasons. We hope they will lift the block on the portal."

TMI remains blocked by most telco providers.

- TMI