Deputy Communications Minister Teo Nie Ching has criticized several media outlets for publishing inaccurate reports regarding former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s attempt to serve the remainder of his prison sentence under house arrest.
Her comments came after Reuters and other outlets, including Singapore’s Straits Times, incorrectly reported that the High Court had ordered Najib’s release.
In a Facebook post, Teo emphasized that media organizations should prioritize accuracy over speed, urging, “Let’s prioritise being right over being first.” She also shared screenshots of the misleading headlines to highlight the errors.
The Reuters report was published before High Court Judge Alice Loke had concluded her ruling and before any official verdict or order was issued. In her decision, Judge Loke dismissed Najib’s judicial review application seeking to enforce a royal addendum that would have allowed him to complete his sentence at home.
Najib, the former Umno president, will continue serving his prison sentence for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd at Kajang Prison.
