Anwar slams ‘say little, do less’ PM over media control

 

Pakatan Harapan chairman Anwar Ibrahim says Umno is reverting to the days when lack of press freedom allowed mega-scandals to come about.

PETALING JAYA: Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim has criticised the prime minister’s “say little and do even less” style of leadership following Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s denials of interference with the press.

Anwar said he was very concerned by recent attempts to intimidate journalists and to interfere in the operations of the free press, which he said was part of an Umno assault on the media at a time when some Umno leaders were facing potential conviction on criminal charges.

He urged all Malaysians to condemn the filing of criminal charges against editors of The Edge and the abrupt change of the group editor of the New Straits Times following allegations of pressure from Umno leaders.

Anwar said Ismail’s remarks denying any political interference in the media reflected his “say little and do even less” style of leadership although “it is the job of the prime minister to inspire confidence in Malaysia”.

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He said Ismail should inspire confidence that press freedom would be protected and instill confidence in the professionalism of law enforcement agencies.

“Without these pillars in order, confidence in our economy will wane and investors will continue to shun Malaysia,” he said.

Ismail had denied there was political intervention in the appointment of Farrah Naz Karim as New Straits Times group editor. She had replaced Ahmad Lokman Mansor.

Ismail had also said he would not comment over the charges of criminal defamation brought against Azam Aris, former chief editor of The Edge, and contributing editor Shanmugam Murugasu, over articles on stock manipulation of penny stocks in 2020 and 2021.

Anwar accused the government, led by Umno and Bersatu, of being eager to return to a period when the absence of media freedom allowed mega-scandals of corruption to take place, leading to the loss of billions of ringgit of public funds.

“Malaysians will recall that in 2015 The Edge was banned for three months for its reporting on 1MDB,” Anwar said.

Anwar, who is Pakatan Harapan chairman, pledged that the coalition would preserve, protect and enhance the independence of the media through legal reform and investment in education and training of media professionals. - FMT