THE Human Resource Development Corporation (HRD Corp) has withdrawn its letter of demand against The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd and one of its writers, said Human Resources Minister Steven Sim.

The minister said he disagreed with the actions of HRD Corp, which fall under the ministry, as he believed in media freedom.

“When I received word of the matter, I instructed HRD Corp to retract (the letter of demand). It was retracted yesterday, even before the PAC held a press conference on the matter today.

“I believe in press freedom in this country. This has always been my principle,” he told the media during a press conference in parliament.

PAC (Public Accounts Committee) chairman Mas Ermieyati Samsudin had earlier held a press conference to say it took a serious view of the HRD Corp move.

The PAC chief said it viewed the threat as an attempt to pressure the media to not publish the committee’s report on HRD Corp.

Yesterday, HRD Corp had threatened to take legal action against The Edge Communications Sdn Bhd and one of its writers for alleged defamation over reporting on the findings of the Public Accounts Committee and the auditor-general about the agency.

In a letter of demand sent on its behalf by the law firm Amrit & Company, HRD Corp accused the media company of having “unfairly, deliberately, maliciously, recklessly published and in bad faith (malice) misquoted, sensationalised and misinterpreted the findings made by the National Audit Department” in two of its articles, which carried the headlines: “PAC flags dubious property deals by HRD Corp”, and “Frankly Speaking: Total breach of governance at HRD Corp”.

HRD Corp said the articles suggested that it had failed its audit, mishandled its funds, made decisions that did not follow procedures, and failed to protect its own interests to achieve its objectives.

It demanded that the articles be taken down and a formal apology be published on The Edge’s own website within 48 hours of the date of the letter.

It also sought damages for the alleged grievances it claimed to have suffered.

However, The Edge Communications stood by its story and said it was prepared to face any legal action from HRD Corp in court. – July 17, 2024.