KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 28 — Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi today questioned the veracity of reports US-based Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on alleged financial irregularities at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He said Malaysians should not unduly swayed by the news reports and consider 1MDB guilty when investigations into the state-owned firm were still underway.

“We should not be influenced by the information that is being spread by this particular media.

“And we should not punish based on the information that comes from unverified sources,” Ahmad Zahid told reporters in a press conference at the Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).

He asked Malaysians to be patient with the on-going investigations on 1MDB and allow agencies such as the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to do their jobs.

“It is best to leave this matter to the investigators in Malaysia in order for the truth to prevail.”

Ahmad Zahid asked to comment on the WSJ news report alleging that a 1MDB unit had sent at least US$850 million (RM3.7 billion) to an offshore entity made to appear controlled by Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC).