CYBERJAYA, Aug 1 — The authorities questioned DAP lawmaker Tony Pua today under the Communications and Multimedia Act (CMA) 1998 for naming the “Malaysian Official 1” figure in the US civil suit seeking to recover assets linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as the prime minister.
After an hour plus of questioning, the Petaling Jaya Utara MP told reporters he was called up for two posts on his Facebook page made on July 21, in which he had linked Datuk Seri Najib Razak to the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit that aims to seize over US$1 billion in assets allegedly purchased with money stolen from the state investment fund.
“I have been told by the MCMC officials that they have received five complaints on two of my postings uploaded on Facebook and Twitter about DOJ’s investigation on the money misappropriated by 1MDB,” he told reporters at the MCMC office in Cyberjaya.
“I have been questioned for about an hour. And I have given my statement that all my comments were based on the DOJ charge sheet.”
Pua’s lawyer and fellow DAP lawmaker Gobind Singh Deo said that his client was investigated under Section 233 of the CMA although the MCMC officials did not provide specifics to his offence.
Section 233 of the Act deals with the improper use of network facilities or network services.
When asked if he was required to take down his Facebook posts, Pua said it was not necessary and he had no intention of removing them either.
In the DOJ civil lawsuit filed last month, “Malaysian Official 1” was identified as a high-ranking government official with authority in 1MDB, but wasn’t named.
