Call to probe how WSJ obtained private banking documents

PETALING JAYA: The authorities should investigate as to how The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) got its hands on banking documents that allegedly show the money trail from 1MDB to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s personal bank accounts.

Cheras Umno chief Datuk Seri Syed Ali Alhabshee said that while the police, Bank Negara Malaysia, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the Attorney-General’s Chambers investigated the case, they should also determine how WSJ had obtained the papers in the first place.

“More importantly, it must also be ascertained that those papers are genuine,” he said yesterday.

“How can a foreign establishment get hold of such private documents?”

Syed Ali also welcomed the joint investigation by the four authorities, expressing confidence that the special task force would do a detailed and comprehensive work into the case.

“I hope the public can accept whatever the outcome is,” he said. “If action needs to be taken against wrongdoers, then so be it.

“If there are parties that need to be cleared (of allegations), then the right thing must be done, too. We don’t want anyone dianiaya (victimised).”

Umno supreme council member Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said Najib should be given the time and opportunity to defend and explain himself against the WSJ allegations.

He said although the international business daily had come out with a purported “money trail”, there were still questions left unanswered.

“We shall let the Prime Minister deal with this. He has already implied that he will initiate a legal action against WSJ.

“So we should allow him space to do what is necessary,” said Abdul Rahman.