M’sia deputy minister flags ‘fake news’ after Straits Times inaccurate report on Najib house arrest bid

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA: A Malaysian deputy minister has sharply criticised sections of the media over inaccurate reporting on former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s bid for house arrest, calling the episode a serious failure of journalistic responsibility.

Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching said the premature reports caused public confusion and undermined trust in the media, urging newsrooms to prioritise accuracy over speed when covering court proceedings.

In a Facebook post dated 22 December 2025, Teo wrote that journalists must “prioritise being right over being first” and compete on factual correctness rather than rapid publication.

Her remarks followed circulation of early reports that incorrectly suggested Najib had been ordered released from prison to serve his sentence under house arrest.

The confusion stemmed from developments during High Court proceedings earlier that morning, while the presiding judge was still delivering her ruling.

At 9.48am, Reuters published a breaking news alert stating that the High Court had ordered Najib’s release for home detention, according to the initial report.

Singapore-based daily The Straits Times carried the Reuters headline prominently on its website and front page display for more than 20 minutes.

During that period, no formal decision had been announced, and the judge had not concluded reading the grounds of her judgment.

The inaccurate headline led many readers to believe that Najib’s application had succeeded, despite the court proceedings still being underway.

Reuters later amended its report, clarifying that the Malaysian King, Yang di-Pertuan Agong could not independently grant house arrest without the involvement of the Pardons Board.

The revised report also stated that an addendum order issued by the former King was invalid because it did not follow established constitutional procedures.

The Straits Times subsequently updated its article and headline, publishing a correction note acknowledging the error originating from the initial Reuters report.

“In an earlier version of this story, Reuters reported that the High Court judge ordered Najib to be released from jail for home arrest,” the correction stated. “Reuters has since issued a correction.”

“We are sorry for the error,” the newspaper added in its editorial note.

According to its website, ST has three Malaysia-based correspondents; it is unclear why it needs to rely on foreign wire services.

Najib Razak fails in bid for house arrest as High Court dismisses application

In her final ruling, High Court judge Alice Loke Yee Ching dismissed Najib’s application to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest.

Najib is currently serving a six-year prison term following his conviction in the SRC International case.

Justice Loke ruled that the purported addendum order from the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong was invalid because it bypassed the 61st Pardons Board.

She said the order did not comply with Article 42 of the Federal Constitution, which governs the exercise of royal clemency powers.

The judge further held that the government had no legal obligation to enforce the alleged addendum, as it had not been issued through proper constitutional channels.

According to the court, any consideration of a reduced sentence or alternative detention must follow established procedures involving the Pardons Board.

Immediately after the decision was delivered, Najib’s lead counsel, Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, informed the court that his client intends to appeal against the ruling.

Singapore government pledges up to S$900 million over five years for SPH Media Trust

In February 2022, the Singapore government announced up to S$900 million in funding over five years for SPH Media Trust (SMT), the parent company of SPH Media, which publishes The Straits Times.

The support, amounting to as much as S$180 million a year, was aimed at sustaining quality journalism and ensuring the financial viability of the national paper amid declining advertising revenue and a shift in audiences to digital platforms.

The funding followed SMT’s restructuring in 2021, which separated it from Singapore Press Holdings and reconstituted it as a not-for-profit entity. The move was intended to help the organisation adapt to digital disruption while preserving its role as a trusted source of news for the public.