KUALA LUMPUR: The Wall Street Journal, defending its report about billions channelled into private accounts of the prime minister, says its information came from documents that had been shared with the Attorney-General and other government leaders.
Advertisement
A statement from Najib’s office criticized “concerted efforts by certain individuals to undermine confidence in our economy, tarnish the government and remove a democratically elected prime minister”.
1MDB maintained that it had never provided any funds to the prime minister.
Of the five deposits from the fund into Najib’s account, the two largest transactions, worth US$620 million and US$61 million, were made during an election campaign in March 2013, the newspaper said.
The PMO noted that 1Malaysia Development Bhd has stated that it never provided funds to Najib. Ex- Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad has led calls for him to step down, warning that there was “something rotten” in the country and that the ruling coalition may lose the next elections with Najib at the helm.
Malaysia premier slams graft report into 1MDB as continuing “political sabotage”.
However, Rafizi said, if it was proven that such account existed, Najib should go on leave and let an acting prime minister to take over the administration until investigations are concluded.
“Actually it was a land purchase, a business move that has brought RM170 million in profit to LTH”, Najib said during a breaking of fast event with the press and bloggers yesterday.
“We are therefore surprised that documents such as these, whose existence and authenticity have not been publicly verified, continue to be used as a basis to create new unsubstantiated allegations against 1MDB”.
Mr Najib has previously denied any wrongdoing in connection with 1MDB and has accused opponents of spreading misinformation.
“The prime minister has to be out of the way to allow whistleblowers and investigators to act independently, otherwise there will be suspicions of intimidation and foul play”, he added.
“He must set himself aside; it would show that he is confident of his innocence”.
A Malaysian state-owned company denied it had funnelled funds into Prime Minister Najib Razak’s personal bank accounts, following reports saying investigators believed they had found such a money trail.
Advertisement
The auditor general’s office will present an interim report on its probe during a briefing with the Public Accounts Committee on July 9, The Edge Financial Daily said Friday.
