Channel News Asia documentary on Malaysia bias

 A documentary about Malaysia by Singapore-based Channel News Asia (CNA) is biased because the sources quoted were only from the Opposition, a minister said.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak said the documentary titled A Fractured Nation merely served to portray a bad image of Malaysia.

He said the report did not reflect the real situation in the country, and CNA should have come up with a balanced report by interviewing those who were members of the ruling party.

"The report is clearly one-sided because it only highlights negative things about Malaysia, and CNA interviewed only members of the Opposition.

"CNA's report on Malaysia Day is unfair, biased and regrettable, and should be rectified.

“It should take into account the views of all parties as the report seems to portray our country is facing a lot of problems which are not true.

“This report clearly shows that they have a point of view or an angle to hurt our country," Salleh said after attending the distribution of sacrificial meat in conjunction with Hari Raya Haji at Kampung Kesapang about 14km from the northern Kota Belud on Friday.

The CNA documentary featured that while Malaysia Day was supposed to be an occasion to strengthen unity of all Malaysians, it was allegedly taken advantage by certain parties to sow discord and disunity through protests with a racial overtone.

Salleh said the foreign media was determined to spoil the good name of Malaysia with reports based on dubious sources.

"It try to create the impression that the Prime Minister has made many mistakes," Salleh added.

He noted that it also appeared to be taking advantage of Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s official visit to New York by screening the biased news documentary.

He believed the negative reports were initiated not only by the outsiders, but also by a certain group of people in the country.

Salleh said the majority of the people and leaders of the country had expressed their full support to the Prime Minister, saying "such acts divulge the futile path".

"The issues they raised on 1MDB and RM2.6bil political donation have been answered ... the Prime Minister has said 1MDB's account must be audited and a report was sent to the Committee of Public Accounts Malaysia (PAC) ... so let PAC investigate.

"The Government has also plans on 1MDB's rationalisation and we believe within six months, these problems can be solved," he said.

On the US$700mil (RM2.6bil), which was channelled into Najib's personal bank accounts, Salleh said the Malaysian Anti-Corruption (MACC) had confirmed it came from donors as a political donation.

Salleh said so far, there was no law in the country that "bar anyone from collecting money for political purposes".