PETALING JAYA: Malaysiakini journalist B Nantha Kumar has denied allegations of soliciting a RM100,000 bribe from a foreign worker agent, later negotiating it down to RM20,000. Nantha, who was investigated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) for allegedly accepting bribes to withhold articles on a foreign worker syndicate, was released after a four-day remand.

Nantha refuted the claims, explaining that a Pakistani agent involved in his story had offered him RM50,000 to "settle" the issue, which he refused. He then met with the state immigration director and agreed to act as an undercover agent to gather evidence. Nantha did not inform his superiors about this arrangement due to concerns over potential risks.

He later met the agent at a hotel in Shah Alam, where the agent handed him an envelope, which Nantha believed contained a bribe. He took the envelope as evidence to report to the immigration department, but was confronted by MACC officers shortly after. Nantha insisted he had never solicited bribes and chose the hotel location, which had CCTV cameras, to gather evidence.

Malaysiakini has suspended Nantha with full benefits while an independent panel investigates the matter, describing him as an outstanding journalist instrumental in exposing foreign worker syndicates.