According to Malaysiakini, the journalist left the anti-graft agency’s headquarters in Putrajaya at about 3pm today.

Nantha was accompanied by his wife and Malaysiakini executive editor RK Anand, who posted the RM10,000 bail on his behalf.

Last Saturday, MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki confirmed that Nantha was detained on Friday night but denied that the arrest was because of the news portal’s recent article about a foreign worker trafficking cartel.

He said the journalist had allegedly solicited RM100,000 from the agent in exchange for not publishing two articles about him, with the sum eventually reduced to RM20,000.

Azam yesterday said the anti-graft agency’s probe into a related syndicate suspected of facilitating the entry of foreign workers into the country was still ongoing.

Separately, Malaysiakini said it acknowledged the seriousness of the allegation against Nantha and would conduct a thorough inquiry into the matter.

“Our inquiry will be thorough, just, and firmly aligned with the values we uphold,” the news portal said.

“Given the nature of Nantha’s work and the significant interests it has addressed, we are committed to thoroughly investigating the situation to uncover the truth and determine if any efforts were made to silence him or undermine Malaysiakini’s reputation,” it added.

Nantha, who joined Malaysiakini in 2018, has written extensively about syndicates linked to migrant workers.

The news portal also urged the authorities to protect the whistleblowers connected to Nantha’s investigation, adding that some of them hold high positions in the immigration department.