Malaysia PM tells parliament of plot to destabilise government

Malaysia's prime minister said a suspect in an alleged plot to topple the government had engaged an international public relations firm to launch a coordinated attack aimed at undermining national institutions before the next election.



Police said last week they were investigating an alleged conspiracy to "sabotage national stability", under laws against undermining parliamentary democracy.



In an address to parliament on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim provided further details of the alleged plot, saying the suspect had engaged the PR firm as part of a response to being the subject of a large-scale ​graft investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).



Neither Anwar, nor the police, have identified the individual suspect or the PR firm.



Anwar said the PR strategy, which began in August 2024 and included engaging media agencies, banks, and lawmakers, was to run until the next general election, due by early 2028.



"Their strategy... was to contact all foreign media with a strategy of undermining the government's efforts, especially the MACC's," Anwar told parliament, citing documents obtained by authorities.