Is this really about freedom of the press or is it a hidden agenda?
The hypocrisy by the anti-government people is so thick you can cut it with a knife. And they demonstrate no shame for this open display of hypocrisy. This is a case of the rapist claiming to be the rape victim.
NO HOLDS BARRED
Raja Petra Kamarudin
When I published the MACC investigation report regarding Lim Guan Eng’s corruption in the Penang undersea tunnel project, he sued me. But he never served the papers on me — hence he menang tanpa tanding or won the case by default.
The MACC confirmed that the investigation report was genuine and said they will ask the police to investigate how this report, protected by the Official Secrets Act, fell into my hands.
Azam Baki is being punished for refusing to drop the corruption case against Guan Eng
In short, the MACC investigation report is genuine and is not fake news. But still Guan Eng sued me for reporting the truth. And no one said a word demanding that he withdraw his suit against me and respect freedom of the press and treat me as a whistleblower.
In Azam Baki’s case, the opposite is happening. Everyone is outraged that he is suing the so-called whistleblower, Lalitha Kunaratnam, when, in fact, by law she does not qualify to be regarded as a whistleblower.
Lalitha Kunaratnam is regarded as a whistleblower because she is anti-government, while I am not because I am pro-government. That is the long and short of it all. People support you if you oppose the government but not if you support the government.
Freedom of choice is not respected if you are not with the opposition. It is like the doctrine that all Muslims go to heaven and all kafir (infidels) go to hell.
However, this is this is not about respecting freedom of the press and treating Lalitha Kunaratnam as a whistleblower (or else they would have shown similar outrage in my case). This is about punishing Azam Baki for not dropping the corruption case against Guan Eng. That is the real issue here, disguised as freedom of the press and so-called rights of whistleblowers.
The hypocrisy by the anti-government people is so thick you can cut it with a knife. And they demonstrate no shame for this open display of hypocrisy. This is a case of the rapist claiming to be the rape victim.
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(The Star) – The High Court has fixed Feb 15 for mention of a lawsuit by Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki against anti-graft activist Lalitha Kunaratnam.
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Media group: Azam must withdraw defamation suit against journalist
(The Sun) – Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chief Tan Sri Azam Baki(pix) must immediately withdraw his defamation suit against a journalist who reported his alleged ownership of shared in public-listed companies, said Centre for Independent Journalism (CIJ).
CIJ Executive Director Wathshlah Naidu said the latest development is seen as a form of intimidation and reprisal against a journalist, who, in good faith, provided evidence and research-based news articles on a matter of public interest.
“Investigative reports are an integral part of freedom of expression and the right to information. The media add another layer as whistleblowers. Protection of whistleblowers is also essential as its safeguards public interest and promotes a culture of public accountability and integrity.
“This defamation suit calls into question the role of Azam, as a public official, who, in his professional capacity, should be working towards the elimination of corruption and upholding rights to report news related to said matters,“ she said in a statement today.
Her comment comes after Azam filed a defamation suit against the journalist yesterday, seeking RM10 million in damages and a public apology for her articles.
It was reported that Lalitha revealed in two articles that Azam, then investigations director, acquired 2.15 million shares in Excel Force MSC Bhd in 2015, and 1.93 million shares in Gets Global Bhd the same year and 1.02 million shares the following year – he may not have declared them.
However, Azam has denied any wrongdoing, saying that the shares were bought by his brother using his account. The MACC advisory council had also cleared him of wrongdoing.
