KUALA LUMPUR – The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) has underlined the need for responsible journalism and strict fact-checking after an erroneous infographic linked the newly appointed Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Datuk Seri Mohd Khalid Ismail to PKR.
Senior press secretary to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim Tunku Nashrul Tunku Abaidah said the publication of unverified information, especially involving key public institutions, risks eroding public trust.
“The Madani government respects media freedom as a cornerstone of democracy. However, freedom without discipline only distances us from the truth,” he said in the PMO’s Daily Briefing session today.
Tunku Nashrul was referring to a viral infographic posted by a local media outlet that incorrectly suggested Khalid had ties to PKR, which he described as an editorial failure with the potential to damage public perception.
“This is a clear example of how editorial negligence can lead to serious misconceptions, particularly when it involves national institutions tasked with upholding law and order,” he added.
The infographic, shared on June 20 via the outlet’s Instagram account, inaccurately stated that Khalid had held leadership roles in PKR.
The claim drew swift backlash and prompted clarification from PKR secretary-general Datuk Dr Fuziah Salleh, who said the party “regrets the profiling error” and confirmed that Khalid “has never been a PKR member, let alone held any position.”
Fuziah warned that such misreporting could damage both the credibility of the police chief and the image of PKR as the ruling party, especially if the public were led to believe that the appointment was politically motivated.
Mohd Khalid, 60, was appointed as Malaysia’s 15th IGP, effective June 22, succeeding Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.
He has served 38 years in the police force, including stints as Pahang Special Branch chief and as principal assistant director of Bukit Aman’s E2 Special Branch division.
Addressing the matter for the first time, Khalid confirmed he had never been involved in any political party throughout his service.
“For 38 years with the PDRM, I’ve never been part of any political party,” he said after the Home Ministry’s monthly assembly in Putrajaya.
He added that he had accepted the incident with an open heart, noting that the media outlet concerned had reached out to request a meeting.
The portal has since issued a public apology and suspended staff responsible for the publication. Khalid said he looks forward to engaging with the media to discuss ways to ensure more accurate reporting moving forward. – June 24, 2025