Nazif Najib: Ties cut with companies implicated in Panama Papers

PETALING JAYA: Datuk Mohd Nazifuddin Najib (pic) says he is no longer involved in two companies implicated in the recent "Panama Papers" data leak.

"It is common for certain parties to take advantage of the leaks as such that would imply wrongdoings," said Mohd Nazifuddin, the son of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, in a Facebook post on Tuesday.

"It comes to no surprise that these groups would politicise the matter as part of the usual attempts to launch a smear campaign," he said.

Responding to a few "frequently asked questions" on the extent of his involvement, Mohd Nazifuddin published his answers to five questions in his post.

"I held directorships in two companies based in the British Virgin Islands (BVI): Jay Marriot International and PCJ International Venture Limited. These companies were incorporated by the international law firm Mossack Fonseca," he said.

Mohd Nazifuddin said that he transferred all of his Jay Marriot shares to director Ch'ng Soon Sen's sister and resigned in 2011.

He said that PCJ International was shut down a year after its formation in 2013, as there were no business transactions.

"No business transactions were made during the time of which I was involved in both the said companies," he said.

Mohd Nazifuddin highlighted that the International Consortium of Investigative Journalism (ICIJ) did not imply any wrongdoing had occurred.

He also quoted other names mentioned in the leak, including the son of a former prime minister, a former minister, as well as international figures such as Lionel Messi and Jackie Chan.

"This does not automatically implicate anybody in any crime.

"On a personal note, this data leak has been a huge invasion of privacy, a basic human right," said Mohd Nazifuddin.

ICIJ on Monday reported that members of the Malaysian government and their families were among those who own offshore companies in Singapore and the British Virgin Islands.