{"id":65527,"date":"2025-08-13T02:56:08","date_gmt":"2025-08-13T02:56:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/65527\/"},"modified":"2025-08-13T02:56:08","modified_gmt":"2025-08-13T02:56:08","slug":"letter-is-fraud-not-you-mic-responds-to-malaysian-photographers-nat-geo-controversy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/65527\/","title":{"rendered":"“Letter Is Fraud, Not You” \u2014 MIC Responds To Malaysian Photographer’s Nat Geo Controversy"},"content":{"rendered":"

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MIC has expressed sympathy for Tinesh Sritharan, the Malaysian photographer whose claim of being selected for National Geographic’s prestigious Explorer programme was recently debunked<\/a> by the organisation<\/p>\n

In a statement issued yesterday, 12 August, MIC central working committee member Dato’ Sivaraj Chandran said the fraud was in the acceptance letter, not in Tinesh himself.<\/p>\n

“It is important to emphasise, the fraud lies in the letter, not in the young man. He is a genuine photographer, and nothing in this incident changes that fact,” Sivaraj said.<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"Image via MIC<\/a><\/p>\n

“If indeed he has been scammed or defrauded, then we feel sympathy for him. No young person should have their dreams manipulated by false promises.<\/p>\n

“His passion, his work, and his ambitions remain his own, and they deserve respect,” said Sivaraj.<\/p>\n

Tinesh’s supposed achievement was widely reported<\/a> by local media earlier this month<\/p>\n

However, when SAYS contacted National Geographic to verify the claim, the organisation confirmed the letter Tinesh received was “fraudulent” and that he was not an Explorer. <\/p>\n

They also confirmed that an email he claimed was from National Geographic’s senior director of storytelling, Sadie Quarrier, was not genuine.<\/p>\n

According to Sivaraj, Tinesh reached out to him on Instagram after seeing the news coverage.<\/p>\n

Sivaraj then arranged for him to meet MIC president Tan Sri SA Vigneswaran, who was impressed by the young man’s passion and pledged RM15,000 to support his trip to Kenya.<\/p>\n

\"SAYS.com\"<\/p>\n

Tinesh Sritharan.<\/p>\n

Image via Tinesh Sritharan (Provided to SAYS)<\/p>\n

National Geographic’s denial came after Tinesh had reportedly already travelled to the Masai Mara National Reserve<\/p>\n

Sivaraj said MIC still supports his work and encourages him to make the most of his time there.<\/p>\n

Quoting the party president, Sivaraj added, “When one door closes, 10 more open. You are already there, so make the most of it. Fulfil the dream you came for. Take the photographs you imagined. Return home with work you can be proud of.”<\/p>\n

MIC also called on authorities, including the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), to be more vigilant in tackling sophisticated scams that prey on people’s ambitions<\/p>\n

Tinesh is believed to be in Kenya pursuing wildlife photography, and MIC hopes his work and experiences will help him achieve his dream \u2014 maybe even with National Geographic “for real” someday.<\/p>\n