28-4-2024 (PETALING JAYA) Political activist Badrul Hisham Shaharin, widely known as Chegubard, finds himself under detention at the Dang Wangi district police headquarters following his online commentary on purported discussions regarding the establishment of a casino within Johor’s Forest City, as reported by Bloomberg.
In a statement released by Lawyer Rafique Rashid, it was disclosed that investigations are underway under Section 4(1) of the Sedition Act 1948 and Section 233 of the Communications and Multimedia Act 1998. A remand application hearing is scheduled to take place at the district police headquarters at approximately 8:45 am on April 28.
The controversy stems from a Bloomberg report alleging discussions between Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and key figures from Berjaya Corp (BCorp) and Genting Group concerning the potential issuance of a casino license for Forest City. Both Anwar and officials from BCorp and Genting Group vehemently denied the claims made in the report.
Genting Malaysia firmly refuted the allegations, asserting that neither the company nor its CEO, Tan Sri Lim Kok Thay, engaged in any discussions with the government regarding the operation of a casino in Forest City. The company urged the immediate cessation of the dissemination of misinformation and called for necessary clarifications to prevent further confusion. It also warned of potential further actions to safeguard its interests and stakeholders.
Anwar Ibrahim reiterated the absence of plans to grant Forest City the country’s second casino license, dismissing claims to the contrary as falsehoods. Similarly, BCorp denounced the Bloomberg report, labeling it as containing “inaccurate information” and denying any involvement in discussions with the Prime Minister concerning the Forest City project.
Johor Menteri Besar Onn Hafiz Ghazi condemned the rumors as acts of sabotage aimed at tarnishing the reputation of Forest City and Johor, emphasizing the need for accurate reporting and responsible dissemination of information.
