KUALA LUMPUR (July 17): The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has called on the board of directors of the Human Resource Development Corp (HRD Corp) to be held accountable for threatening to sue The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd over its reporting on the committee's findings and those of the auditor general.

The committee expressed shock upon learning that HRD Corp had issued a letter of demand to The Edge, publisher of The Edge Malaysia weekly and theedgemalaysia.com, said its chairperson Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin during a press conference on Wednesday. She also urged HRD Corp to cease intimidating journalists and media outlets.

"We demand explanations from the Human Resources Ministry and HRD Corp's board of directors regarding these actions. The board must be held accountable for these actions," she emphasized.

Mas Ermieyati characterised HRD Corp's actions as an attempt to pressure the media into refraining from reporting on the agency. She said the committee views these actions as an effort to obstruct The Edge's role as media practitioners and potentially undermine PAC's credibility.

She noted that since its establishment in 1959, PAC reports have never been disputed, as they are based on statements from witnesses called during PAC proceedings.

Mas Ermieyati highlighted that this is the first instance where a ministry or department has issued letters threatening legal action against any party discussing or commenting on PAC and auditor general reports, particularly in the media.

"PAC has previously dealt with larger issues than HRD Corp, such as 1MDB, a company owned by the Ministry of Finance incorporated in 2016. However, neither 1MDB nor the Ministry of Finance has ever issued such letters or threatened legal action against the media. In fact, measures have been taken by the Ministry of Finance to rectify issues, including reclaiming 1MDB's investment assets," she pointed out.

She reiterated that HRD Corp is a company limited by guarantee (CLBG) and is subject to the Companies Act 2016, as well as the Human Resources Development Act 2001.

"The levy collected by HRD Corp is taxpayer money, and it is the duty of the PAC to ensure that it is managed in accordance with the law," she stressed.

On Tuesday, The Edge reported that HRD Corp had threatened legal action against The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd and one of its journalists for alleged defamation related to its reporting on the PAC and auditor general's findings concerning the agency.

In a letter of demand issued by the law firm Amrit & Company on behalf of HRD Corp, the media company was accused of unfairly, deliberately, and maliciously misquoting, sensationalizing, and misinterpreting findings by the National Audit Department in two articles: 'PAC flags dubious property deals by HRD Corp' and 'Frankly Speaking: Total breach of governance at HRD Corp'.

HRD Corp claimed these articles were intended to defame the agency and its officials, exposing them to public scorn and damaging their professional reputations.

The demand letter insisted on the removal of the articles, a formal written apology published in two English dailies and The Edge's website within 48 hours, and sought damages for alleged harm suffered.

Earlier, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong stated that he had instructed the agency to retract the letter of demand to The Edge and stressed his disagreement with HRD Corp's actions. 

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