Penang councils urge MCMC probe into viral TikTok videos alleging corruption, launch investigations
GEORGE TOWN, June 6 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) has filed a report with the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) urging an investigation into two viral TikTok videos containing allegations of corruption and double standards involving the council personnel.
In a statement today, MBPP said that four city councillors — Tan Soo Siang, R. Harikrishnan, Muhammad Khairul Mohd Ali, and Datuk Abdul Razak Abdul Rahman - also lodged a police report against the individual who uploaded the videos.
'MBPP is deeply disappointed by the videos circulating on TikTok. The content includes numerous false and biased claims that are not based on accurate facts or data. The videos amount to slander and misrepresentation of the council,' the statement read.
MBPP said that it will not hesitate to take legal action against the content creator or any party attempting to tarnish the council's reputation without credible evidence.
The videos in question accuse MBPP of accepting bribes in exchange for allowing foreign nationals to operate businesses and claim that MBPP enforcement officers apply double standards in their operations.
In a related development, the Seberang Perak City Council (MBSP) said that it has launched an internal investigation into another viral video that allegedly shows one of its officers engaging in corrupt practices.
According to MBSP, a meeting was held with the business owner involved to gather detailed information about the incident.
The council emphasised that a full internal inquiry is underway to address the allegations made in the video.
'MBSP strongly urges the business owner to make an official report to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission if there is genuine evidence of corruption involving MBSP staff,' the statement read.
The council also reiterated that it does not tolerate any misconduct related to corruption or abuse of power among its personnel.
The viral video, which runs for two minutes, features a man alleging that MBSP officers abused their powers at his friend's business premises. The video includes claims of extortion, threats against customers, wrongful detention of foreigners, and even an incident in which a local man was allegedly slapped after being mistaken for a foreign national. — Bernama
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Free Malaysia Today
27 minutes ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Dr M's latest ‘Malay unity' effort also bound to fizzle out, say analysts
On Wednesday, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad launched the Malay secretariat committee, intended as an umbrella body to unite all Malays and restore their political power. PETALING JAYA : Two analysts have poured cold water on Dr Mahathir Mohamad's latest effort to unite the Malays and restore their political power, expecting it to fizzle out like the former prime minister's other initiatives. Azmi Hassan of Akademi Nusantara and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia's Mazlan Ali said Mahathir's previous initiatives, namely the formation of Pejuang and the Gerakan Tanah Air (GTA) coalition, have both failed. Neither pundit believes this proposed new movement will gain traction, saying that most Malays will see it as just another political ploy, especially given that both PAS and Bersatu have offered Mahathir their backing. Azmi said Mahathir may be seeking to replicate the success of Muafakat Nasional (MN), the now defunct Umno-PAS pact, which, at its highest point, led a protest attended by more than 55,000 Malays against the then Pakatan Harapan government in 2018. Azmi Hassan. However, he said Mahathir's proposed 'Malay secretariat committee' would not work without Umno's involvement. This is why Mahathir was courting Umno members without inviting the party to join as a whole, Azmi added. 'The reason MN enjoyed a short period of success in the past was because the Malays at that particular time saw a threat in the PH government. Ironically, Mahathir was the prime minister then. 'When there is a threat to the Malays, they will join forces, as seen during the 2018 protest. But right now there is no such urgency, especially for Umno members, to be part of Mahathir's current effort,' Azmi told FMT. Mazlan said Mahathir's Perikatan Nasional-backed Malay secretariat was likely a political strategy ahead of the next general election (GE16) but is unlikely to bear fruit. Mazlan Ali. 'I don't see Mahathir as having the gravitas to unite the Malays, because many of his actions seem inconsistent, so the people don't really believe him. 'People will just see it as a political agenda, not an agenda to unite the Malays. A genuine agenda to unite the Malays must be non-partisan.' He added that not all members of the community believed in the idea of restoring Malay political power, saying Malaysia's multiracial environment meant that political cooperation across all races was a necessity. Mahathir launched his new Malay unity alliance on Wednesday. The longtime former Umno president, who later led Bersatu, Pejuang and GTA, said the alliance would not be a formal political party for now but a loose coalition to gather the Malays under one 'big umbrella'. Azmi said the other issue with the 'umbrella' was that it was led by the same old faces — Mahathir, former prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin, opposition leader Hamzah Zainudin, and PAS deputy president Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man. He preferred former law minister Zaid Ibrahim's proposal of a new movement to unite the Malays led by leaders under the age of 50 with proven success in various fields. 'I think the younger generation needs to be at the forefront, not Mahathir, because Mahathir and his team in the committee have their own political agenda. 'Malay professionals don't have a political agenda, so I think that's the way to do it if we want to gather all the Malays under one roof.'
Free Malaysia Today
5 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
Vision 2020 plaque removed for safety reasons, says KL Tower
Visitors queuing up to enter the Kuala Lumpur Tower after its reopening. The Vision 2020 time capsule was opened on April 13. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : A plaque marking where the Vision 2020 time capsule was planted at the Kuala Lumpur Tower was removed for safety reasons, according to the skyscraper's operator. LSH Service Master Sdn Bhd said the plaque originally functioned as a cover for the special chamber where the time capsule was located, but could no longer be securely closed after the capsule was opened on April 13. 'This posed a risk of injury to visitors passing by the area. Therefore, it was removed for safety reasons, in line with the management's priority to ensure the well-being of all visitors,' said the company's CEO Khairil Faizal Othman in a statement. Khairil added that there were no longer any historical elements or artifacts stored in the chamber after the time capsule was opened by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad. He also said the plaque had not been discarded but has been 'properly stored' by the company, though he did not elaborate on its whereabouts. Khairil also denied that the company intended to erase or alter history by removing the plaque, in response to a claim by Bersatu MP Wan Saiful Wan Jan. He said: 'All actions taken were based on safety considerations, corporate compliance, and a commitment to preserving the legacy of KL Tower.' Khairil added that the plaque featured the tower's old corporate logo and that it cannot be used for official display in line with the skyscraper's rebranding. Earlier today, Wan Saiful reportedly urged communications minister Fahmi Fadzil to explain why the plaque had been removed, saying it should have stayed put since it was meant to commemorate the time capsule planted in 1996. The Tasek Gelugor MP questioned if the government was attempting to erase history, particularly Mahathir's role in planting the time capsule.
Free Malaysia Today
6 hours ago
- Free Malaysia Today
We are sorry, prime minister
PETALING JAYA : The misuse of video outtakes on social media has become a growing concern recently, with netizens editing clips to malign public personalities, distort narratives and mislead audiences. With content zipping around social media almost instantaneously, an innocent moment can be turned into a controversy almost immediately. Unfortunately, FMT found itself a victim of this recently, with our popular Malay news presenter Nur Hailee Izzati unwittingly putting herself in the spotlight. Hailee had on May 30 posted a seemingly harmless outtake of herself laughing as she struggled to begin reading a news item that made mention of the prime minister. Unfortunately, the video clip was misused by a netizen who edited it to include a disparaging caricature of the prime minister, making it appear as though FMT and Hailee were mocking him. As a result, Hailee was forced to issue an apology, which she readily did. Misused video outtakes can cause grave reputational damage which may be hard to undo. The consequences can also be severe, with both FMT and Hailee receiving instant backlash from all corners, bringing harm to the brand and jeopardising careers. Ultimately, media outlets like FMT and journalists like Hailee must exercise care in what they do both in their professional and personal capacities. Meanwhile, netizens, many of whom are now themselves content creators, must do their part by consuming and using content ethically to maintain proper digital discourse. That is a tough ask, and can only be achieved if everyone plays their part. FMT and Hailee regret the manipulation of one of our unused video clips in a way that has brought ridicule to Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. We sincerely apologise to him and to all our readers and viewers.
