KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — The Prime Minister’s Office today summoned Meta representatives to explain the removal of content related to Palestine issues from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s social media platforms.
According to sources, this included content about the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, which was removed and blocked from Anwar’s Facebok and Instagram accounts.
It is understood that the prime minister, who was upset over the removal of his posts, has requested explanations from Meta on the matter.
The meeting, set to take place this afternoon, will seek clarification on disruptions reported during a Facebook Live broadcast of the “Himpunan Pembebasan Palestin” rally yesterday at Axiata Arena, Bukit Jalil, which was attended by more than 15,000 people.
Yesterday, Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said a meeting would be held in Putrajaya today with Meta over the removal of Palestine-related content from Anwar’s social media platforms.
Fahmi had previously expressed the government’s disappointment over the removal of the content, and requested an explanation from Meta.
A check on Anwar’s Instagram account found that three of his posts on July 31 condemning Haniyeh’s assassination and photos of his meeting with the Hamas leader had been removed from the social media platform.
The removal of the posts was accompanied by a content warning that read: “Dangerous individuals and organisations.”
This led the Prime Minister’s Office to condemn Meta’s actions, while Anwar on August 1 reminded Meta to stop acting as instruments of the oppressive Zionist Israeli regime.
— Bernama
