Albert Tei Accepts Open Debate Challenge, Urges Organisers to Reveal Details
Businessman Albert Tei has openly accepted the debate challenge issued by Department of Community Communications (J-KOM) director-general Mohd Hisyamuddin Ghazali, better known as Syam Ghaz, while urging the organisers to announce the venue, date and format of the proposed event as soon as possible.
Albert said he had no reservations about participating in a public debate and believed it would provide an opportunity for both sides to present their arguments directly to the public.
According to him, no official information has been provided so far regarding the venue, moderator, organiser or schedule of the debate despite the challenge being publicly mentioned earlier.
“I am ready to debate at any time. I only hope that the challenge will not be withdrawn and that the event can proceed as promised.
“If there is going to be a debate, let the public know where it will be held, who is organising it and when it will take place. I have no problem attending,” he told reporters after attending the Gegar TikTok gathering in Kuala Lumpur yesterday.
The debate proposal emerged after Mohd Hisyamuddin lodged a police report against Albert on Thursday, alleging that the businessman had disturbed public order and made unfounded accusations against the Ministry of Communications.
The report was filed at the Putrajaya District Police Headquarters, with police being urged to investigate the matter and take appropriate action if necessary.
Following the police report, Albert and several individuals attended a press conference where they questioned Mohd Hisyamuddin about the allegations against him, particularly regarding claims that he had caused disturbances.
However, Mohd Hisyamuddin did not elaborate on the accusations and instead stated that he would attempt to arrange a platform where both parties could meet and debate the issues publicly.
Albert described the suggestion positively, saying that an open debate would allow Malaysians to assess the arguments presented by both sides in a transparent manner.
Apart from addressing the debate challenge, Albert also reiterated his criticism of TikTok over what he described as repeated restrictions on content related to freedom of speech and public discourse.
He claimed that several pieces of content associated with him had been removed or restricted, raising concerns over how the social media platform moderates content involving political or social issues.
According to Albert, such restrictions do not affect him alone but have broader implications for Malaysians who rely on social media to express opinions and engage in public discussions.
“The issue is not just about me. It concerns the right of Malaysians to voice their opinions and access information freely.
“If TikTok continues to impose restrictions, we are prepared to organise more gatherings and protests in the future,” he said.
Albert warned that the recent Gegar TikTok gathering might not be the last if concerns over content moderation remain unresolved.
He said future rallies, potentially under banners such as Gegar TikTok 2 or Gegar TikTok 3, could be organised to continue highlighting the issue.
“We see this as a form of struggle. If TikTok keeps restricting content that we believe does not violate any laws, then more gatherings may take place,” he said.
Albert also questioned whether TikTok’s actions were influenced by directives from external parties, including the government.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged that the government had previously maintained that decisions related to content moderation fall under the authority and responsibility of the platform itself.
He urged TikTok to uphold principles of fairness and transparency while ensuring that its moderation policies do not undermine freedom of expression protected under Malaysia’s Federal Constitution.
“I hope TikTok will review its approach and ensure that it remains an open and fair platform for everyone.
“People want social media platforms to encourage healthy discussions rather than suppress differing views,” he added.
