Malaysia blocks whistleblower website amid 1MDB scandal

KUALA LUMPUR

 Malaysia has blocked access to a website that published allegations that Prime Minister Najib Razak pocketed $700 million in public funds, with a minister defending the move Monday as aimed at curbing the spread of “malicious propaganda.”

The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission announced the ban on London-based whistleblower site Sarawak Report in a statement late Sunday, accusing it of threatening national security.

"The contents could be fake. Such contents could affect the peace and cause national instability, disrupt public order and affect economic stability," it said, adding that the measure would remain in place under a probe into state-owned investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was finalized.

Earlier this month, the site and the Wall Street Journal had released reports quoting documents allegedly from an ongoing probe into debt-ridden 1MDB that claimed that the $700 million moved among 1MDB-linked government agencies, banks and entities, before ending up in Razak’s accounts.

Razak has denied using funds for personal gain, referring the allegations to his lawyers.

A special Malaysian task force comprised of the attorney-general’s office, police, anti-corruption authorities and the Central Bank is currently investigating the media claims.

Ismail Sabri Yaakob, agriculture and agro-based industry minister, warned Monday that the website’s content could destabilize the country.

He told state news Bernama that the measure “not only blocks but can also take legal action and impose a heavy penalty under the Sedition Act, Penal Code and the MCMC Act."

He added that the move had been made after complaints from the public saying the contents had not been verified and remained under investigation.

While he assured that Malaysia’s constitution ensured freedom of speech, the minister underlined that abuses such as defamation, sedition, falsification of facts and treason would not be tolerated.

"Freedom is still subject to the law. I urge that action to uphold the law is immediately taken against social media users who violate it, regardless of their status," Yaakob said.

The Sarawak Report said in a statement Sunday that it “will not be impeded in any way by this action in bringing out future information as and when its investigations deliver further evidence."

"This latest blow to media freedom only brings further discredit upon the present administration, who have proven unable to counter the evidence we have presented in any other way," it said in a Facebook post.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have criticized the block, saying it would only damage the government’s image.

Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man, deputy president of the conservative Pan-Malaysian Islamic Party, said in a statement Monday that the block "is not effective and will instead spur the people more to read what is on the site."

The Malaysian Insider also quoted him as calling on the special task force to set a deadline for its probe, stressing that the findings must be made public for national stability.

He also said Razak must also sue the Wall Street Journal or “go on leave immediately."

Lim Kit Siang, parliamentary leader of the Democratic Action Party, has also warned that the block will only harm the credibility of Razak, who he called on to immediately order its reversal.

"Blocking access to Sarawak Report is not going to end his 1MDB woes but the opposite, plunging his credibility and legitimacy to even unimaginable depths, which is not good for him as prime minister and for the nation as well," the Insider cited his statement as saying.