Malaysia's Red Shirts call for news portal's closure over funding claims
Kuala Lumpur - Hundreds of pro-government protesters joined a rally in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday calling for the closure of a major local media group following reports that it received funds from an organization linked to business magnate George Soros.
More than 300 Red Shirts took part in the demonstration outside the office of Malaysiakini on Saturday afternoon, where they shouted slogans calling for the news portal's closure, according to an epa journalist on the scene.
Red Shirts leader Jamal Yunos, who is also a member of the ruling United Malays National Organisation party, said the action was organized to protest donations allegedly made to Malaysiakini by the Open Society Foundation, a grant-making organization run by billionaire Soros.
The largely Malay group claims the funds given to Malaysiakini were to be used to influence the next general elections, with an aim of toppling the government of Prime Minister Najib Razak. Despite demonstrators shouting at police, the protest remained largely peaceful and ended late Saturday afternoon, with pledges from Yunos for another gathering later in the month.
In a statement Saturday, Malaysiakini editor-in-chief Steven Gan said the site is under the full control of journalists and editors, not investors. "When it comes to outsiders or even Malaysiakini shareholders influencing our editorial (output), that is completely impossible," Gan said at a press conference following the rally.