Journalist gives statement on casino article
Journalist Ram Anand (right) was spotted leaving the Bukit Aman police headquarters in Kuala Lumpur at 11am today.
KUALA LUMPUR: Police recorded a statement today from a journalist at an English-language news portal over a report on purported plans to build a casino in Forest City, Johor.
The journalist, Ram Anand, was seen leaving the Bukit Aman police headquarters at 11am after arriving at 8.30am today.
Ram is one of three journalists who contributed to the report.
Last Friday, Inspector-General of Police Razarudin Husain said Bukit Aman’s classified crime investigation unit would be recording the statement of an editor of an English-language news portal at 11am today.
He said the matter was being investigated for sedition, criminal defamation and the misuse of network facilities.
Razarudin said the investigation was initiated after a police report 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.
Investigations are being carried out under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act, Section 500 of the Penal Code, and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.
Razarudin also said police would 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 for a casino at the Forest City development, which has been described as a ghost town.
Anwar, Berjaya and Genting Malaysia have all rejected the claims made in the Bloomberg report.
Last week, Anwar suggested that those mentioned in the report take action against Bloomberg.