16-07-2025
'DAP-linked portal removes article with false Lahad Datu photo after lawsuit filed'
Published on: Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Published on: Wed, Jul 16, 2025 Text Size: (From left to right) Asraf, Stephan, Yong, Tungku Community Leader Datu Shuaib Mutalib and lawyer Yong Yit Jee. KOTA KINABALU: A DAP-linked portal quietly removed a misleading 2013 Lahad Datu article within a day of legal action, without apology or explanation, claimed SAPP president Datuk Seri Yong Teck Lee, historian Stephan Gaimin, and activist Asraf Amir in a joint statement on Wednesday. The lawsuit, initiated on July 10 this year by Yong, Stephan, and Asraf, names DAP and the portal for publishing a 2013 article that used a photo wrongly linked to the Lahad Datu conflict.
Advertisement The image, originally from a separate event in the southern Philippines, was falsely presented as depicting the Sabah incursion, contributing to public fear and confusion during a time of national crisis. They claimed the page was missing as of July 11 this year, with the original link now returning an Error 404, and it remains unclear whether the takedown was voluntary or due to regulatory instruction. Citing previous instances where the same image was reproduced in legal and academic settings, they said the spread of the false narrative prompted their legal action and called on DAP to issue a public apology and commit to preventing similar misinformation in future. * Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel and Telegram for breaking news alerts and key updates! * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
