The journey of Malaysiakini is one of fervent Pakatan Harapan supporter and active propagandist to that of a news portal that habitually slams PM Anwar Ibrahim and his government.

This year the once-respected portal carried over 500 articles on just three manufactured topics.

Albert Teh’s so-called Sabah mining scandal and the false drama of the Jalan Masjid India temple which proved to be nowhere near 130 years old as claimed. Also the non contract renewal of top judge Tengku Maimun, which it tried to play up as a huge judicial scandal.

Nantha Kumar bribery case

There were not so many stories about how its own reporter Nantha Kumar was arrested by the MACC after trying to blackmail a whistleblower in an immigration syndicate.

In fact he was charged at the Shah Alam Sessions Court on March 14 with receiving RM20,000 in exchange for retracting and not uploading articles about a cartel involving foreign workers. 

It seems that the whistleblower contacted MACC who then conducted a sting operation and nabbed him in the act of receiving the money.

He claimed he didn’t inform Malaysiakini bosses about what he was doing. This is highly irregular as no reporter goes undercover of their own accord without getting clearance from their editors.

Some people out there have been fooled into believing the narrative that Malaysiakini is very clean and totally above corrupt practices. Maybe that was true in the past under Steven Gan, but it simply isn’t true anymore

In fact the reporter in question has even been accused of soliciting money from politicians from both sides of the political fence.

What is most scandalous is that he operates through threats and intimidation, yet enjoys impunity from the Malaysiakini bosses.

Recently a police report was filed over his attempt to threaten a government officer, but the Malaysiakini leadership is keeping silent.

Premesh Chandran double game

Which brings us to Malaysiakini co-founder and CEO Premesh Chandran has turned against his friends in Pakatan Harapan.

What’s worse is that he uses his news portal to bash the Madani government while continually lobbying for government-linked contracts and positions.

Pramesh’s private company, Asia Mobiliti, was co-founded with Ramachandran Muniandy, who is FT Minister Hannah Yeoh’s husband.

He secured a direct-award contract from the Selangor government despite his and Malaysiakini’s long history of criticising the same practice.

The ethical conundrum was compounded when he sought government contracts for his software startup Awatar Innovations Sdn Bhd, which focuses on AI applications for business and government.

He also tried and failed to consolidate power within the Malaysian Media Council, by fielding no less than five proxy candidates from Malaysiakini in an effort to dominate the council’s structure.

It was a sly move intended to secure influence and bend the institution to his preferences. Someone who truly believes in fair representation would not attempt such manoeuvres.

Ever since Anwar Ibrahim took office, Malaysiakini has jettisoned its journalistic ethnics and teamed up with the government’s foes.

Every single good initiative by Madani is ignored or swept aside, while minor topics get twisted and played up as if they are huge catastrophes.

There is a team of discontented individuals like Zaid Ibrahim, Tian Chua, Latheefa Koya and Tommy Thomas to criticise the government’s every move. Now even Rafizi Ramli is a favourite interviewee.

Take a look at Malaysiakini on any given day and you will see at least 80 percent of the topics are unabashed attacks against Anwar, Pakatan Harapan and the Madani government.

The money trail

Premesh remains Malaysiakini’s largest shareholder. He acts as Asia’s representative for the Media Development Investment Fund, giving him direct influence over regional media financing.

Additionally, he retains indirect control of Yayasan Malaysiakini through proxies, including former general manager K. Manohar, who is also his relative. This allows him to exercise substantial influence while maintaining the image of distance.

The truth is that the company has always been secretive about its ownership and funding.

After Steven Gan left, and Madani government was formed, Malaysiakini struggled for readership as its readers turned to official sources.

Alarmed by a collapse of losing more than 70 percent of subscribers, they turned to new funders who gave them an anti-Madani mission. Take down the government by hook and by crook!

Look at Malaysiakini’s regular columnists. Bridget Welsh, Mariam Mokhtar, S Thayaparan, Andrew Sia. None of them are on the ground they love to talk about.

Some are dealing with serious personal issues and still trying to shape national narratives from behind a laptop thousands of miles away. That is remote commentary disguised as authority – with a heavily anti-Madani slant.

This brings us to Australian hack Murray Hunter. Recently detained in Thailand and facing trial now.

Last lived in Malaysia before the pandemic. Yet he produced conspiracy theories on command and pushes them into our public spaces like a man determined to stay relevant at any cost.

So what is the common link between Malaysiakini, MalaysiaNow, The Coverage and rogue bloggers like Murray?

Simply put – funding and narrative collusion. Who are the common links? Could it be Azmin Ali and Latheefa Koya?

Other hidden partners?

Azmin and Latheefa were once trusted allies of Anwar but shifted their allegiance during the turbulent period leading up to the Sheraton Move.

It was during this realignment that Dr Mahathir Mohamad placed Latheefa at the helm of the MACC, a move that caused many to question whether she was intended as a political safeguard rather than an institutional reformer.

Her brother Abdar Rahman took the reins at MalaysiaNow, a portal known for its partisan tone and its alignment with Azmin Ali’s political interests.

Her influence extended into Lawyers for Liberty, an organisation co-founded by her former partner Eric Paulsen and now led by her long-time associate N Surendran.

What once operated as a human rights group evolved into a political battering ram that frequently mirrored her stances. As the years passed, she found new amplification through Malaysiakini, turning the portal into a platform where her narratives could gain speed and legitimacy.

When MalaysiaNow triggered a controversy, LFL defended it and Malaysiakini elevated it. The same players, the same rhythm.

A choreography disguised as coincidence. But the disguise is wearing thin.