Cops to take editor’s statement over casino article
The Forest City development in Johor, which has been described as a ghost town, was said by Bloomberg to be the location for a proposed new casino. (AFP pic)
PETALING JAYA: Police will record a statement from an editor of an English-language news portal next week, over a report on plans to build a casino in Forest City, Johor.
Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said the editor’s statement will be recorded by Bukit Aman’s classified crime investigation unit at 11am on Monday, Sinar Harian reported.
He said the matter is being investigated for sedition, criminal defamation and misuse of network facilities.
Razarudin said the investigation was initiated after a police report was lodged by a lawyer of Berjaya Group founder Vincent Tan over the article, “Malaysia Mulls Casino at Forest City: Bloomberg”.
“The report was lodged after it was alleged to contain false, unwarranted and fake information,” he was quoted as saying.
Police will also record a statement from Tan and Genting Group chief executive Lim Kok Thay, although a date has yet to be set.
Last month, Bloomberg reported that Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim had met Tan and Lim to discuss plans to open a casino at the Forest City development, which has been described as a ghost town.
Anwar has since denied the Bloomberg report, calling it a lie. Berjaya said the report contained statements that were false, untrue and unwarranted. The company also asked Bloomberg to remove any misleading content in the article.
Genting Malaysia also clarified that it had not taken part in talks with the government about opening a casino.
Last week, Anwar suggested that those mentioned in the report should take action against Bloomberg. The New York-based company provides financial services, news, data and software and publishes Bloomberg News which employs more than 2,700 journalists around the world.