Umno Youth has condemned a documentary on Netflix over its portrayal of former premier Najib Abdul Razak, including linking him to the murders of deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais and Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.
The wing’s chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh urged Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil to order Netflix to remove the show, titled “Man on the Run”, which chronicles the 1MDB financial scandal.
Describing it as a “trial by media '' and a “malicious attempt” to form a negative perception of Najib, he pointed out the former prime minister is still facing court proceedings related to 1MDB.
He added that the statements made by those interviewed amounted to contempt of court.
“There are also excessive elements such as linking Najib to the murders of Altantuya and Morais,” Akmal (above) added in a statement this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim told reporters that the government would look into a request by Najib’s lawyers to remove the documentary.
‘Najib trying to cover unpleasant truths’
Whereas, “Man on the Run” director Cassius Michael Kim accused Najib of wanting to cover the unpleasant truths about himself and his administration.
He hoped that the local courts and the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would be able to see through this.
"In America, we believe in a free press.
“It fits the pattern of Najib that once again, he seeks to silence those who would reveal unpleasant truths about him and his actions – even if the words happen to come out of his own mouth.
"All of this is a distraction... desperate actions by desperate people who once again seek to avoid accountability at the expense of the Malaysian people,” he told the New Straits Times.
However, Akmal disagreed with Kim’s views and dubbed "Man On the Run" a "one-sided propaganda material", rather than an ethical, professional documentary.
"Umno Youth doesn’t question freedom of choice and media freedom but the contents of the show, especially interviews with certain individuals, border on slander, sub-judice, prejudice and biases - all of which go against the freedom of speech.
"The statements made by individuals featured in the documentary are also in contempt of the ongoing court proceedings, and this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously," Akmal said, further urging the Communications Ministry, via the MCMC, to ask Netflix to take down the documentary immediately.
Akmal pointed out that under the country's law, everyone is protected in an equal manner, and as such, it is wrong to paint someone as guilty before they are convicted of an offence.
On Jan 8, at the onset of the 1MDB trial in High Court, Najib's lead defence counsel Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah of Najib’s intent for the government to get Netflix to remove the documentary from its streaming platform.
Among the interviewees featured in the documentary are former attorney-general Tommy Thomas, former US ambassador to Malaysia John R Malott, Sarawak Report founder Clare Rewcastle-Brown, former FBI officers to Malaysia Charles O’Neal and David Smith, former Damansara MP Tony Pua as well as Anwar.
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