Why let Bloomberg off but pursue journalist in Thailand, government asked

A human rights activist has questioned the Malaysian government's decision to halt its investigation into Bloomberg, while continuing to pursue a Thailand-based freelance journalist by working with authorities there to arrest and prosecute him for criminal defamation.

Charles Hector also challenged the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which was behind the highly publicised arrest of Murray Hunter by Thai police, to take similar action against Bloomberg over its explosive report last year alleging that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim directed the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) to go after his political enemies while sparing a former aide who is now a multi-millionaire businessman.

"Murray Hunter is facing a criminal charge of defamation in Thailand, initiated by MCMC. Bloomberg also allegedly defamed PM Anwar Ibrahim and MACC. So will Malaysia look for a country that will charge Bloomberg for the crime of defamation?" Hector asked.

On Sept 26, 2024, Bloomberg cited three informed sources as saying that Anwar had instructed MACC chief Azam Baki not to investigate his former political secretary Farhash Wafa Salvador over the controversial purchase of shares in a company linked to the development of a new billion-ringgit immigration system.

The report also claimed that Azam told MACC officials that investigations into former leader Dr Mahathir Mohamad, his three sons, as well as the late Daim Zainuddin, were launched on Anwar's instructions.

Following this, Daim's wife Na'imah Abdul Khalid lodged a police report calling for Anwar and Azam to be investigated for abuse of power based on Bloomberg's claims.

In June, some nine months after the report was lodged, police declared "no further action", without elaborating on whether Anwar or Azam was questioned.

Authorities have meanwhile questioned several journalists linked to the Bloomberg report.

Earlier this month, it was announced that the Attorney-General’s Chambers decided not to bring any charges against Bloomberg due to "insufficient evidence".

Hector said the decision showed double standards, and asked if it was because the media involved was Bloomberg "and not some individual human rights defender like Murray".

"The use of foreign jurisdictions, foreign laws, and foreign criminal courts is very wrong, more so when the complainant is the government or government bodies such as MACC or MCMC," he added.

Hunter, an Australian academic who frequently writes on Malaysian current affairs, had accused MCMC among institutions that have become political tools for the Anwar administration, as authorities continue to suppress online speech and impose restrictions on media outlets.

Hunter also said there was a conflict of interest when the internet regulator, which frequently takes action against dissenting voices on social media, is headed by Mohamad Salim Fateh Din, who is also the executive vice-chairman of property and infrastructure developer Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB).

On Sept 29, Hunter was arrested by Thai immigration under a warrant issued by a Bangkok court, before being jailed overnight and released on bail.

This followed MCMC lodging police reports in Malaysia and Thailand in relation to Hunter’s writings critical of the commission. The commission also filed a civil suit in Malaysia, with the cause papers served on him in Thailand.

His arrest has renewed concerns about cross-border repression by governments in Asean, the bloc currently chaired by Malaysia.

Following his arrest, Hunter said any journalist could be subjected to arrest if "a body in another country makes a complaint against them".

In July, the UN Human Rights Council warned against a "rise in transnational repression ... to deter, silence or punish dissent, criticism or human rights advocacy".