Umno Youth slams 1MDB documentary linking Najib to murders
SHARIFAH SHAHIRAH
SHAH ALAM - Umno Youth has strongly condemned the broadcast of a documentary titled 'Man on the Run' on Netflix, which is alleged to contain defamatory elements against former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The documentary, currently available on Netflix, has allegedly levelled various accusations against the former premier including claims of defamation, sub judice, prejudice, and biased reporting, thus violating the principles of freedom of speech.
Umno Youth chief Dr Muhamad Akmal Saleh has argued that the documentary's content represented a form of 'trial by media' while Najib is still facing trial in court, aiming to shape a negative perception of him.
"The broadcast of this content is a form of 'trial by media' while Najib Razak is still facing trial in court, and it intends to shape a negative perception of him.
"There was extreme content linking Najib to the murder cases of Altantuya (Mongolian Altantuya Shaariibuu) and Kevin Morais (former deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais).
"The statements made by the parties in this documentary are also an insult to the ongoing court proceedings, and this is an issue that needs to be taken seriously by all parties," Dr Akmal said in a statement today.
He hoped that the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) would take immediate action by requesting Netflix to remove the documentary as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has reportedly said that the government would look into a request by Najib’s lawyers to remove the documentary.
On Jan 8, at the onset of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) trial in High Court, Najib's lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah informed judge Datuk 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 Tan Sri 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.
