{
  "id": 1845079,
  "title": "Without access to facts, journalists risk lawsuits, says Zaid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/without-access-to-facts-journalists-risk-lawsuits-says-zaid",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-19T01:10:54.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/nation/2026/08/19/without-access-to-facts-journalists-risk-lawsuits-says-zaid"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Former Malaysian law minister Zaid Ibrahim has warned journalists covering corrupt practices that lack access to certain facts may find themselves vulnerable to lawsuits. During an interview, he highlighted that journalists often target contractors or developers, which he referred to as \"soft targets,\" when they suspect unfair contracts or dubious projects. However, Ibrahim argued that these entities operate within a \"closed system\" designed to facilitate corruption and conceal power abuse.\n\nAccording to Zaid, the contractors and developers are shielded by official secrets that protect decision-makers, preventing journalists from obtaining crucial contract terms. Consequently, journalists often rely on secondary and circumstantial information, which can lead them to become targets of legal action. He emphasized that good journalists have noble intentions but must ensure they are targeting the right entities—namely the government or the approving authority—before exposing the \"soft targets\" within the system.",
  "summary": "Ex-law minister says contractors, developers and concessionaires, however, have to operate within a closed system designed to hide the abuse of power.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Without access to facts, journalists risk lawsuits, says Zaid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/19/without-access-to-facts-journalists-risk-lawsuits-says-zaid-1848623",
        "published": "2026-08-19T01:10:54.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}