11 police reports made alleging defamation in CNN interview video with Anwar, says IGP

PETALING JAYA: 11 police reports have been lodged over a recent viral video that allegedly defamed Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in his recent interview with CNN, says Tan Sri Razarudin Husain.

The Inspector-General of Police told Sinar Harian that investigations into the cases have begun, classified under Section 504 of the Penal Code and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998.

He added that the investigation was being handled by the classified crimes investigation unit under the Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID).

“So far, there have been 11 reports related to this issue and a total of 12 witnesses have had their testimonies recorded.

“The investigation papers will be referred to the Attorney General’s Chambers (AGC) soon,” he said on Wednesday (Nov 20).

This comes after a coalition of 20 non-governmental organisations lodged a police report over the same viral video on Tuesday (Nov 19).

The viral video in question was seemingly edited to create the false impression that Anwar had recognised Israel’s right to exist while deliberately leaving out the parts of the interview of Anwar denouncing Israel.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil has since denounced the video as an effort by irresponsible parties to create the false impression of the country supporting Israel, on Nov 15.