Malaysia’s Disgraced Ex-Prime Minister Is Trying To Get Netflix Film ‘Man On The Run’ Taken Off The Platform

Andreas Wiseman
·2 min read
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Lawyers for Malaysia’s ex-prime minister Najib Razak are trying to get Netflix documentary Man On The Run taken off the platform due to what they describe as “sub judicial and contemptuous” content.

The disgraced Razak is currently half-way through a 12-year prison sentence for his involvement in Malaysia’s 1MDB scandal, one of the largest money-laundering and embezzlement cases in history.

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Razak’s lawyers have complained to the High Court this week that the documentary is prejudicial towards ongoing corruption trials against the former leader.

According to prosecutors, Razak worked closely with Chinese intermediary and playboy Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, to illegally extract hundreds of millions of dollars from the public-facing sovereign wealth fund. Jho Low was known in Hollywood for his lavish lifestyle, celebrity parties and helped set up Razak’s stepson Riza at Red Granite Pictures, one of the producers of The Wolf Of Wall Street. The whole affair is documented in true-crime doc Man On The Run, which focuses on Jho and his disappearance.

Prior to his incarceration Razak was one of the contributors to the film, which as we previously revealed, was acquired by Netflix six weeks ago.

Among those Razak now wants to take legal action against are former Malaysia attorney-general Tommy Thomas and journalist Clare Rewcastle-Brown (who helped blow open the case in the first place) over their statements in the film. In the meantime, his lawyers have asked that the film be taken down.

“The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) and the Home Ministry have the authority to take it off the air,” the lawyers said, according to local reports.

Netflix, which released the movie globally early this month, declined to comment when we reached out.

The film’s director Cassius Michael Kim told us: “Censorship is the tool of the oppressor. The former prime minister’s claims that he was misled by me are patently false and echo his words from our interview in the film, in which he repeatedly states that — during the 1MDB scandal — he was misled by all those around him in government. While he was a mere unknowing puppet. I look forward to a brighter future for the Malaysian people.”

The corruption hearings against Razak continue in Kuala Lumpur on January 24.

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