Jasa director-general Datuk Dr Puad Zarkashi says the WSJ report on misappropriation of SRC funds is part of an international conspiracy. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Hasnoor Hussain, July 6, 2015.
The Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-general said the report appeared to be part of an international conspiracy aimed at toppling the Malaysian government, adding that he hoped Najib would sue the business daily as soon as possible.
"I hope the suit will be filed immediately against the slanderous report. The PM has denied the allegation.
"What is important now is that the source of attack against the country has changed from inside the country to outside the country, as though there is some international conspiracy to remove the present government," he said in Penang today at a Jasa Prihatin event in Teluk Kumbar where he visited several homes and presented aid to the elderly and the less fortunate.
Jasa functions as Putrajaya's propaganda unit, with one of its tasks being the dissemination of information on behalf of the government.
Puad, an Umno Supreme Council member, said this attack from abroad was a development following the arrest of former PetroSaudi International director Xavier Ander Justo in Thailand for alleged blackmail and extortion over information on PetroSaudi's dealings with 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Puad said Justo's arrest had shown that tampered documents about 1MDB's dealings had been leaked and used in the media to paint a bad picture of Malaysia.
"Previously, people inside the country were used to attack the government. Now they have diverted to using the foreign media to make personal attacks against the PM.
"We cannot compromise in this matter, as the attacks have effects on the country's stability and the PM's leadership.
"I ask all Umno members to unite and defend the PM. With undivided support and trust from party members and the people, Najib will be able to overcome this difficult challenge."
Asked whether members of the Umno supreme council were satisfied with Najib's explanations on the WSJ allegation, he said there has not been any council meeting on the matter.
"The issue came about just three days ago. We haven't had a council meeting to talk about this yet, but the PM has made statements to deny the allegation.
"That is enough to explain that the report was slanderous. But then it is up to the council (to decide if a meeting has to be called). But on 1MDB, we had a meeting and we are satisfied," he said.
Asked if he knew what transpired during an informal meeting of some supreme council members last night at the prime minister's residence at Seri Perdana, Puad said he was unaware of it as he had been touring the northern states over the weekend for the Jasa Prihatin programme.
On Thursday, WSJ reported that government investigators probing 1MDB traced a cash flow of over RM2.6 billion into Najib's account just before the 2013 general election.
Najib and his office have strongly denied the allegation, calling it political sabotage. The prime minister also blamed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of working with foreign agents to attack his administration.
- TMI
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.