KUALA LUMPUR – Cassius Michael Kim, the director behind Netflix’s documentary ‘Man on the Run,’ delivered a strong message to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, asserting that “censorship is the tool of oppressors.”
Kim expressed his stance on his Instagram page, following news of Najib’s attempt, through his lead defence counsel Tan Sri Muhammad Shafee Abdullah, to have the documentary removed from Netflix or at least restricted in Malaysia.
In response, Kim posted on his Instagram story: “To Najib and his lawyer: in America, we believe in a free press.”
Accompanying the post were screenshots of the day’s news, with Kim captioning: “What does censorship reveal? It reveals fear.”
Earlier today, Shafee said that he has been instructed by his client to send a letter to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) as well as the Home Ministry, to take the necessary actions to remove the documentary from Netflix, and to prevent it from streaming in Malaysia.
Scoop has reached out to Kim for additional comments following today’s developments and is awaiting a response.
Shafee, during the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) funds misappropriation trial, informed the high court that the documentary, featuring personalities such as independent journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, is “extremely” subjudice and contemptuous.
In addition to the letter to the MCMC and the Home Ministry, Shafee mentioned that Najib instructed him to initiate contempt proceedings against former attorney general Tan Sri Tommy Thomas and file a legal suit against Rewcastle-Brown over their comments in the documentary.
Later in the evening, Shafee claimed that Najib was misled into agreeing to an interview for Netflix’s ‘Man on the Run’ documentary.
According to Shafee, Najib was only informed that the interview would focus on international fugitive banker Jho Low, without knowledge of the documentary’s outcome.
“This is a typical American programme; they will mislead you and tell you untruthful things,” Shafee said
The documentary delves into the 1MDB scandal involving Jho Low and his alleged embezzlement of 1MDB funds.
Najib, who was interviewed on April 3, 2022, appeared an hour into the documentary, expressing caution regarding potential subjudice and contempt issues due to his ongoing court case.
Initially screened in cinemas nationwide in October last year, the documentary became available on Netflix on January 5 this year. – January 8, 2024