Malaysia PM tells parliament of plot to destabilise government

KUALA LUMPUR, March 3 (Reuters) - Malaysia’s prime minister said a suspect in an alleged plot to topple the government had engaged an international public relations firm to launch a coordinated attack ​aimed at undermining national institutions before the next election.

Police said last week they ‌were investigating an alleged conspiracy to “sabotage national stability”, under laws against undermining parliamentary democracy.

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In an address to parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim provided further details of the alleged plot, saying the suspect ​had engaged the PR firm as part of a response to being the ​subject of a large-scale graft investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).

Neither Anwar, ⁠nor the police, have identified the individual suspect or the PR firm.

Anwar said the ​PR strategy, which began in August 2024 and included engaging media agencies, banks, and lawmakers, ​was to run until the next general election, due by early 2028.

“Their strategy… was to contact all foreign media with a strategy of undermining the government’s efforts, especially the MACC’s,” Anwar told parliament, citing ​documents obtained by authorities.

“And then to use their power and contacts in foreign countries to ​shape a narrative questioning the authority of the Malaysian government and organise a movement through the Malaysian ‌parliament. ⁠That is what worries us.”

Anwar said documents identified media firm Bloomberg as one of the agencies targeted by the alleged conspiracy.

A Bloomberg spokesperson did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment on Anwar’s remarks.

A special government committee is conducting a separate investigation into allegations ​in a Bloomberg report ​last month that ⁠head of MACC, Azam Baki, may have breached shareholding laws.

Azam has said he is willing to be investigated as he had “nothing to ​hide” and all his financial declarations have been made according to ​public service laws.

Lawmakers, ⁠including a key party in Anwar’s ruling coalition, have called for a royal inquiry into another Bloomberg article alleging broader misconduct at the anti-graft agency.

The MACC has said the allegations were “baseless”, and that ⁠they ​were an attempt to discredit its investigations and enforcement ​actions within the corporate sector.

On Tuesday, Anwar said a royal inquiry into the matter was “premature” as the special committee ​was expected to complete its probe this week.

Reporting by Rozanna Latiff; Editing by Neil Fullick

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