KUALA LUMPUR – A police report has been lodged over the alleged leak of meeting minutes from the Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC), Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said today, while noting that the authenticity of the document has yet to be confirmed.
Fahmi, who also serves as the government spokesman, said he had been informed of the report but stressed that the authenticity of the document remains unverified, local media reported.
He also said the Cabinet has not yet deliberated on the case.
“I cannot confirm whether the document that is circulating is legitimate or not. At the same time, if it is a legitimate and classified document, specifically one that is marked as secret, then OSA (Official Secrets Act) would apply,” he was quoted as saying.
Speaking to reporters after launching the IPRM AI Festival 2025 at Angkasapuri today, Fahmi urged the public and the media to exercise caution, noting that if the document is indeed authentic and confidential, sharing it could constitute an offence under existing secrecy laws.
Fahmi said investigations into the leak would be left to the police. Asked if the issue would be brought up at the next Cabinet meeting, he replied that it was likely, given the prime minister’s responsiveness to matters in the public eye.
“Usually, I wouldn’t know (what the Cabinet meeting agenda is), but usually the prime minister is very attentive to issues that arise in the public domain. So there is a possibility it will be discussed,” he said.
When asked about steps taken by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) to remove the alleged document from online platforms, Fahmi said the commission had yet to provide an update.
He added that while MCMC can submit takedown requests, the final decision rests with the respective platform operators.
“So MCMC can make a request if there is a complaint, but it is the platform that decides to take it down if it deems the content to be in violation,” he explained.
The document in question is purportedly from a JAC meeting held in May. It is said to have first appeared on Reddit before being circulated more widely on Facebook and X.
The leak has sparked a wave of concern, particularly in light of the recent retirement of former Chief Justice Tun Tengku Maimun Tuan Mat.
Public Accounts Committee (PAC) chairperson Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin described the leak as “madness” if proven true.
Criticism has also come from PAS, with the party’s information chief Ahmad Fadhli Shaari demanding an open explanation from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
He warned that the prime minister must step down if the claims in the leaked document cannot be credibly denied.
“This implicates not just the judiciary, but the prime minister’s own integrity,” Ahmad Fadhli wrote on Facebook. He also warned members of the judiciary not to participate in any attempts to undermine justice, stressing that accountability must apply regardless of status.
The leak has triggered mounting calls for a royal commission of inquiry (RCI). A group of nine PKR lawmakers, led by Economy Minister Datuk Seri Rafizi Ramli, last week pressed for an RCI and urged the Parliament Special Select Committee on Reforms to step in. They argued the controversy could be as serious as the VK Lingam judicial scandal.
In response, the Malaysian Bar announced plans to march on Monday to submit a memorandum to the prime minister, reiterating their demand for an independent inquiry.
The Attorney-General’s Chambers has since dismissed the claims as “speculation” and said parallels drawn with the Lingam affair were inappropriate.
The prime minister is expected to meet Pakatan Harapan MPs on Monday to address the matter. – July 13, 2025