PUTRAJAYA – The government is leaving it up to the courts to determine whether the documentary Man On The Run will have to be removed from streaming platform Netflix.
Unity government spokesman Fahmi Fadzil said Putrajaya would not interfere with court processes involving the film on fugitive Low Taek Jho’s role in the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) global financial scandal.
“I have received advice on the matter from various parties, including the attorney-general as well as the legal adviser for the Communications Ministry and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission.
“Since this is a matter which has been brought up in court… we cannot pre-empt the court, so we’ll be leaving it up to them,” Fahmi, who is also communications minister, said during a press conference, here, today.
He pointed out, however, that the film, which features an interview with jailed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, was previously shown in cinemas with no reported issues.
“My legal advisers were in agreement that, in fact, the movie premiered in cinemas in November last year after approval from the Film Censorship Board.
“There were no issues when the movie was shown to the public at that time,” Fahmi added.
Previously, Fahmi said the MCMC would look at the legal aspects of Najib’s request to remove and prohibit the screening of the movie.
Najib’s lawyer, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, said his client had sent a letter to Fahmi requesting the ministry to direct Netflix to take down the 98-minute documentary.
In the letter, Najib, who is currently serving 12 years in jail for corruption involving SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former 1MDB subsidiary, claimed that statements made in the movie had defamed him as they were not proven in court.
His counsel also argued that the airing of the documentary was in contempt of court and sub judice in nature as the 1MDB criminal case was still ongoing before high court judge Datuk Collin Lawrence Sequerah. – January 24, 2024