PM Office summons Meta, demands apology for removing Anwar Ibrahim's posts

Malaysia's prime minister office (PMO) has summoned Meta to demand an explanation regarding the removal of several posts from prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's Facebook and Instagram accounts. 

Minister of communications Fahmi Fadzil and chairman of the Malaysian communications and multimedia commission (MCMC) Mohamad Salim Fateh Din were also present at the meeting. 

According to a press statement by the PMO seen by A+M, the meeting saw the PMO expressing its deep dismay at Meta's action in removing the prime minister's posts.

Don't miss: Meta investigating removal of PM Anwar's posts with Hamas leader

The posts expressed his condolences and paid tribute to the recently assassinated Palestine politician and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh. 

"The PMO views Meta's actions as discriminatory, unjust and a blatant suppression of free expression. It is also seen as an affront to the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people in their pursuit of justice and human rights," said PMO in a statement. 

"We also emphasised that the removal of these posts has deeply impacted the people of Malaysia and the global community, who are well aware of the suffering of the Palestinian people and the atrocities committed by the Zionist Israeli regime, as recorded in history," it added. 

The PMO also questioned the transparency of Meta's content moderation policies following its "unilateral decision" to censor content without considering the context of the posts, said the PMO. 

In addition, the PMO took issue with the suspension of a live broadcast on Facebook via the Malaysian state broadcaster's account of a pro-Palestinian rally held in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday night (4 August). 

As a result, the PMO has demanded several actions, including a detailed explanation of Meta's decisions to rectify the matter, along with a public apology from the company. 

"As promised during the meeting, Meta will be issuing a press statement shortly," said PMO. 

Checks by A+M revealed that Meta has not issued a press statement. 

On 1 August, PM Anwar and the PMO called out Meta for taking down his Instagram posts. In a statement on Facebook, the prime minister said that it "makes no sense when a post honouring a fighter who worked to liberate his country from tyranny and suffering is considered dangerous. 

The prime minister added a warning for Meta, telling it to not be a "pacifier and a tool of Israel's tyrannical Zionist regime". 

Similarly, the PMO released a statement on X saying that it "condemned the actions of the Instagram platform provider Meta, which took down the post of prime minister Anwar Ibrahim's meeting with the leader of Hamas in Doha, Qatar last May." 

It added that Meta's action "clearly shows discrimination against the situation in Palestine and the country's leaders. Therefore, we demand an explanation and urge Meta to apologise." 

Photo courtesy PMO Malaysia, Facebook

Related articles: 
Prime minister office calls out Meta for removing Anwar's Instagram post with Hamas leader  
Meta apologises for translation blunder over Malaysian king's installation   
MY govt considering developing social media app just for Malaysians, says Fahmi