Report on Meta's apology to PM Anwar gets Arab world's attention

KUALA LUMPUR: The report of Meta Platforms apologising following the decrease in the number of posts from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's Facebook and Instagram accounts regarding the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, received widespread media coverage in Arab and Arabic-speaking countries.

The report is published among others through the platforms masrawy.com and aawsat.com based in Egypt, alroya.com (Oman), sarayanews.com (Jordan), alalam.ir (Iran), alquds.co.uk and alghad.ty (UK), aljazeera.net, alaraby.com (Qatar) and alwatannews.com (Bahrain).

Malaysia has demanded an explanation from Meta after messages of condolence following Haniyeh's death were taken down from the Facebook and Instagram accounts.

"We apologise for the operational error in which the posts from the prime minister's Facebook and Instagram accounts were taken down. The posts have been restored with the correct news label," a Meta spokesperson told Reuters in response to questions via email.

ALSO READ: Meta apologises for removal of PM Anwar's posts on Haniyeh

On Monday (Aug 5), the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) had called Meta to provide an explanation regarding the removal of content related to the Palestinian issue on Anwar's social media accounts.

The PMO, in its statement, had expressed disgust at Meta's actions in removing Anwar's messages, expressing condolences and respect for Haniyeh on Facebook and Instagram on May 14 and July 30.

"The Prime Minister's Office sees Meta's action as a form of discrimination, unfairness and restricting freedom of expression.

"It is also an insult to the legitimate struggle of the Palestinian people to demand justice and human rights," according to the PMO statement.

Also present at the meeting with Meta were Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil and chairman of the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) Tan Sri Mohamad Salim Fateh Din. - Bernama