KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 30 — Putrajaya needs concrete evidence before taking action on individuals said to be profiting from loopholes in the country’s economy policies, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today.
Najib, who is also the finance minister, was responding to a question on the action to be taken against alleged economic saboteurs who were trying to undermine the government.
“We have to obtain proof of what is being alleged by them and we hope that the relevant government bodies will take appropriate action,” he told reporters after chairing an Umno Supreme Council meeting here.
Though he made no specific mention to anyone or any allegation, it is believed he was alluding to a report by Utusan Malaysia earlier today.
In the report by the Malay newspaper, Umno’s Kepala Batas MP Datuk Seri Reezal Merican Naina Merican alleged that there were individuals involved in money-laundering activities who were using their funds to sponsor and operate media organisations to attack the government.
“It is fair for us to express our concern because the profits reaped by these individuals can be used for bad motives. This include sponsoring and operating the media to defame the government,” Reezal was quoted saying by the daily.
“I urged those who are involved to be probed to ensure the profits which they earn are properly audited, including new media portals which may be in cahoots to destroy the country,” Reezal reportedly said.
He also urged the government to see if they could use the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing Act 2010 to clamp down on such people.
There have been rumours online that alleged saboteurs are attempting to devalue the ringgit sufficiently to trigger a currency crisis, in purported efforts to weaken Putrajaya.
