KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 — DAP lawmaker Charles Santiago questioned today Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang’s motive in demanding the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) produce four witnesses to prove report tracing massive cash deposits from state-owned 1Malaysia Development Berhad into the prime minister’s private bank accounts.

The Klang MP reminded the PAS president that transparency was needed in order to preserve that justice was served in the case that is now a matter of public interest.

“How do we convince him that the Islamic law has got no jurisdiction in this matter?

“What would it take for Hadi to finally get it that the newspaper is not bound by shariah law?” Santiago asked in a statement.

The PAS president was reported saying earlier today that WSJ needed to provide four trustworthy witnesses before publishing its report incriminating Najib, on the principle of fair play.

Hadi had reportedly said his party had adopted the same position in the sodomy trial of PKR’s Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.

The DAP man took a swipe at his one-time PAS ally for referencing Islamic laws in his defence of Datuk Seri Najib Razak amid an ongoing investigation into the US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) money trail.

“Hadi’s statement raises a crucial question: is Hadi really interested in ensuring justice is not denied or is he trying to cleverly insulate Najib at a time when the country is grappling with one of its worst financial scandals that involves the top man?” Santiago asked.

He chided Hadi and said his fellow opposition parliamentarian should have instead demanded the government make public the details of its ongoing investigation into the case.

A special task force comprising officials from the Attorney-General’s Chambers, Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the police are currently investigating WSJ’s money trail claims that had cited government documents.