PRIME Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said he is considering legal action against international media outlet Bloomberg over reports alleging that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) acted on instructions from him during investigations into certain individuals.
He told the Dewan Rakyat that he only gave general orders to the MACC regarding corruption when asked about a Bloomberg report alleging political interference in graft probes.
“The MACC itself has made a strong statement denying the said defamation because what happened were only general orders that I had given, including in Parliament," he said.
During Prime Minister's Question Time, Anwar confirmed that the police had already received reports and taken several steps, including summoning Bloomberg representatives and related individuals on Oct 1, 8, and 11.
"Legal action is currently being considered as the police have received reports and are investigating the matter,” he said.
Last month, Bloomberg released a report citing three sources who claimed that Anwar had ordered MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki to launch investigations against his rivals, including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Daim Zainudin.
The report also alleged that Anwar ordered Azam not to investigate his former aide Datuk Farhash Wafa Salvador Rizal Mubarak over the latter’s purchase of shares in HeiTech Padu Bhd. - October 15, 2024