KUALA LUMPUR, July 3 — Datuk Seri Najib Razak and 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) must refute claims that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was diverted into the prime minister’s accounts, the MCA Youth said today.
The wing’s chief, Chong Sin Woon, noted that the allegation carried by US-based Wall Street Journal was serious and that 1MDB should also do more to convince the public that just issuing “simple one-off” denials, which he said does not allay suspicions against the firm.
Najib must also take steps to clarify the report, Chong said when noting that the article was being spread rapidly online.
“Providing detailed information and clarification will do more damage control and clearing the air whilst alleviating public rumblings, rather than denials which appear standard and do not fully help in assuaging public suspicion,” Chong said.
At the same time, the MCA Youth chief said the WSJ must similarly back up its allegation with detailed evidence.
Chong also asked if WSJ took into account investigations by the Royal Malaysian Police into Swiss national Xavier Justo, who is accused of doctoring and leaking documents on 1MDB, when preparing its report.
“WSJ should disclose its source of information. Otherwise, this news report is no different than any other tabloid article bent on sensationalism,” he said.
According to the WSJ today, Malaysian investigators probing 1MDB’s investments allegedly traced nearly US$700 million worth of deposits from companies linked to the debt-laden firm into what they believe are the personal bank accounts of the prime minister.
