Salleh confirms MCMC probing TMI

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) is investigating news site The Malaysian Insight (TMI) and action would be taken if necessary.

"A report on TMI has been received, and the MCMC is investigating it.

"If it violates any Acts, we will surely investigate and send the report to the relevant authorities for further action," Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak told reporters at the sidelines of the Umno general assembly at the Putra World Trade Centre today.

He did not the nature of the report lodged.

Earlier a Penang delegate had accused TMI of attacking and insulting the Umno leadership and Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Penang delegate Mohd Nashrol Hisham Abdullah also asked for authorities to investigate TMI's alleged owner Faridah Begum.

Faridah is TMI editor-in-chief Jahabar Saddiq's sister, and wife of attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali.

Meanwhile, Federal Territories Umno Youth chief Razlan Rafii also took the opportunity to hit out at both TMI and Malaysiakini while debating the motion on religion and education.

Razlan claimed the opposition has its own channels in "spreading slander against Umno leaders" as well as using such channels to allegedly insult the Malay struggle.

"TMI has slandered, and Malaysiakini is also used as a medium to insult us. They opposed it when we recently spoke about better social agendas."

Razlan also accused Malaysiakini of having lied to the rakyat by publishing articles on the purported 40,000 Bangladeshi voters during the last general election.

"We still remember what happened in 2013 - Malaysians were duped about the 40,000 Bangladeshi voters. Who wrote this story?

"It was Malaysiakini. They spread slander, and this had led to serious polemics in our society at the time," he said.

However he did not elaborate on which report he was specifically referring to.

Apart from reporting claims by the opposition on the alleged phantom voters, Malaysiakini had carried both the Bangladesh High Commission and Prime Minister Najib Razak's denial of the allegations.

On another matter, Salleh also said the MCMC would work with the police on calls by Sungai Besar Umno chief Jamal Md Yunos for DAP member Zaid Ibrahim to be probed.

Zaid has come under fire after posting tweets critical of Selangor ruler Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah over the latter's remarks against Dr Mahathir Mohamad.- Mkini