Probe against Bloomberg not a sign of scuttling press freedom

Communication Minister Fahmi Fadzil denied that the police probe against Bloomberg journalists were indicators of scuttled press freedom.

“The police report was made by Berjaya Group. It is not from the government or the MCMC. There are no directive from the government to probe.

“The investigation was not made based on a government directive. It was based on a report by Berjaya,” said Fahmi during his weekly press conference.

Fahmi is also the government’s spokesperson.

Two days ago, Bloomberg journalist Ram Anand recorded his statement and confirmed that the police is investigating Bloomberg for sedition, criminal defamation and misuse of network facilities.

Berjaya Group had lodged a police report over Bloomberg’s news article, “Malaysia Mulls Casino at Forest City: Bloomberg”.

The article claimed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim met Berjaya Group’s Vincent Tan and Genting Group’s Lim Kok Thay to discuss plans to build a casino in Forest City, Johor.