Take legal action against WSJ, PM urged

TELUK INTAN: The Prime Minister should take legal action against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to clear his name and the country’s image, said Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.

He said WSJ’s report also questioned the country’s leadership in the eyes of the world.

“WSJ as an influential and respected media institution should provide solid evidence before making such a serious allegation.

“Its action, which seemed to precede ongoing investigations, is aimed at sensationalism,” he told reporters after handing out Hari Raya donations to police personnel at the Hilir Perak district police headquarters yesterday.

“It is up to the Prime Minister to discuss with his lawyers or the Attorney-General on possible action to be taken, either in his individual capacity or as leader of the country,” he said.

Dr Ahmad Zahid said the Home Ministry would take action against any media outlet which publishes or broadcast false information or used non-credible sources to hurt the image of the Government and country.

“Laws pertaining to the country’s banks are covered by the Banking and Financial Institutions Act.

“Information deemed as banking secrets should not have come out, let alone information from documents not certified by banks,” he said, according to Bernama.

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin will support the Prime Minister if he sues WSJ.

He said the allegation that money from 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) dealings were banked into the Prime Minister’s personal bank accounts was “not substantiated by concrete proof and documents”.

“It is his right to bring legal action because it is a very serious allegation,” said Khairy.

The burden of proof lies with those who made the allegation,” he told reporters after a forum, Centrality of Integrity for the Next Generation, in Bangi yesterday.

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s political secretary Datuk Muhammad Khairun Aseh told a Malay daily on Friday that the premier would be taking legal action against WSJ.

Attempts to contact Khairun yesterday to confirm that Najib was suing the newspaper were unsuccessful.

Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said it was unlikely that someone would take public funds using his personal bank accounts.

“It is illogical,” he said, especially when it involved not millions but billions of ringgit.

“This would be easily traced,” he added.

There may be a motive behind the allegation like wanting “to des­­troy our economy”, said Ahmad Shabery after calling on a MYTV digital terrestrial TV test-phase res­­pondent in Kuantan yesterday.