Zahid: The Edge must be held responsible for inaccurate reports

PETALING JAYA: The Edge Media Group owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong has been issued a warning for allegedly publishing incorrect news.

“The Edge and its owner Tong Kooi Ong must be held responsible for publishing inaccurate reports and false information. The Edge should have verified the facts before publishing the articles,” said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi (pic) after a religious talk in conjunction with Ramadan on Wednesday.

He said that The Sarawak Report blog had become a source of false information on Government investment arm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), and that this false information had been later reported by The Edge and other media.

Dr Ahmad Zahid spoke of the arrest of suspected extortionist, Swiss national  Xavier Justo, in Thailand on Monday, saying that the Home Ministry had been informed that Justo was the person who had relayed incorrect information to The Sarawak Report, adding that some of the emails and documents published by the blog showed signs of tampering after being stolen from PetroSaudi’s databases.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the information taken from the databases was incomplete and had been edited by professionals with the intent of tarnishing the image of certain organisations.

On the arrest of Justo by Thai authorities, the Home Minister said: “If there is any request form the Thai police for any individuals to assist them in investigating the case to be sent there, we are ready to help them.”