Teo Nie Ching criticises premature coverage of Najib case; foreign newswire flashed incorrect ruling mid-hearing
PETALING JAYA: Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching has issued a strong rebuke against several media organisations over their handling of former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s house arrest application, calling the coverage a significant failure that spread misinformation.
Taking to Facebook, today, Teo emphasised that journalists must place accuracy above speed, stating they should “prioritise being right over being first” and compete on precision rather than rushing to break news.
The DAP vice-chairperson, who also serves as DAP Women Chief and Johor DAP chief, made the remarks following a series of premature reports that mischaracterised High Court proceedings involving Najib’s bid to serve his remaining sentence under house arrest.
The controversy centred on a Reuters report issued at 9.48am that incorrectly stated the judge had ordered Najib’s release for house arrest—a headline that Singapore’s Straits Times displayed prominently on its front page for over 20 minutes.
However, at that time, Kuala Lumpur High Court judge Alice Loke Yee Ching was still delivering her ruling, and no formal verdict or order had been announced, resulting in widespread public confusion.
Reuters subsequently corrected its coverage, clarifying that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong could not independently authorise Najib’s house arrest without the Pardons Board’s participation, and that the former King’s supplementary order was invalid as it failed to follow proper procedures.
In reality, Justice Alice Loke rejected Najib’s application to complete the remainder of his six-year prison term under house arrest.
READ ALSO: Najib Razak house arrest plea dismissed by High Court
The judge determined that the addendum order from the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong was constitutionally invalid because it circumvented the 61st Federal Territories Pardons Board and did not comply with Article 42 of the Federal Constitution.
Justice Loke stressed that government authorities had no obligation to implement the order, effectively ending Najib’s legal bid for house arrest through this avenue.
The 72-year-old former leader has been imprisoned at Kajang Prison since August 23, 2022, following his conviction for misappropriating RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd. His original 12-year sentence was reduced to six years in 2024 by the Pardons Board.
Immediately following the court’s decision, Najib’s lead counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah notified the court that his client intends to challenge the ruling on appeal.
Teo’s public criticism highlights ongoing concerns about the balance between speed and accuracy in modern news coverage, particularly in high-profile cases with significant public interest.
Her intervention as Deputy Communications Minister signals potential government concern about media practices that prioritise breaking news over verified reporting, especially when such errors can influence public understanding of critical judicial proceedings.
