KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 8 ― Billionaire Low Taek Jho denied again today any role in the online attacks allegedly perpetrated by an anonymous blogger against Datuk Tong Kooi Ong and several others, claiming the allegations to be false and defamatory.

In a brief statement here, his spokesman labelled the accusations carried by publications under Tong's The Edge Malaysia media group as “outlandish and false assertions”, repeating again that Low respects those believed to be targeted in the online smear campaign.

“As Mr. Low already stated publicly, Mr. Low respects Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, Datuk Seri Nazir Razak, and Datuk Dr. Tong Kooi Ong and acknowledges their professional achievements.

“With regard to reports of a legal demand, Mr. Low’s lawyers will address this matter directly with Datuk Dr. Tong's lawyers to confirm that the assertions are preposterous and false,” the spokesman said.

Earlier this week, the flamboyant businessman also known as “Jho Low” denied any links to the blogger “ahrily90”, who has been accused of being responsible for the online attacks against Tong, CIMB chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

The allegations against Low were contained in a February 3 article by The Edge weekly's article titled “EXPOSED! Pro-Jho Low blogger behind attacks on Dr M, Nazir and Edge owner Tong” that was also published on The Malaysian Insider.

The article tied the blogger to Jho Low through other blogs that it said carried positive articles on his philanthropy and of 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), while attacking Dr Mahathir, Nazir and Tong.

It alleged that the “pro-Jho Low” blogger was the source of allegations claiming that its owner Tong has been speculating against the ringgit.

The business paper subsequently inferred Jho Low’s ties to 1MDB via his previous involvement in the state investment arm’s predecessor, the Terengganu Investment Authority.

Tong, the owner of The Edge Media Group that recently acquired The Malaysian Insider, last month became the target of allegations that he was betting against the ringgit with a US$1.4 billion (RM4.96 billion) short against the Malaysian currency.

Shorting refers to the practice of pre-selling a currency or stock ahead of purchasing them, with the objective of turning a profit when the said currency is later acquired when its value has fallen.

The blogs claimed that he was aiming to profit by devaluing the ringgit at the expense of the rest of the country, drawing parallels with former currency speculator George Soros who targeted the ringgit during the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.

Earlier today, Nazir said he is now considering legal action against “ahrily90” after taking note of Tong's claim to have evidence linking the blogger to the online attacks.

Tong has also threatened to sue those accusing him of intentionally undermining the ringgit for profit and in a media statement earlier, named Low as the person responsible for the attacks.

On Friday, Tong's lawyers served a notice on Low, demanding that the magnate stop fabricating lies against himself, The Edge and The Malaysian Insider in the blogs malaysianexpose.wordpress.com and kronismemahathir.wordpress.com.