WSJ ignoring confirmed facts, says gov't spokesperson

The Malaysian government has taken to task the Wall Street Journal for continuing to try and link the funds deposited into the prime minister's accounts with 1MDB even after "multiple lawful authorities" have confirmed the money came from Saudi Arabia.

In a statement, a government spokesperson said: “As stated by the attorney-general of Malaysia, the funds received were a donation from Saudi Arabia.

“This has been verified by multiple lawful authorities who conducted exhaustive investigations. This included Malaysian authorities travelling to Saudi Arabia to examine documentation and interview members of the royal family and officials that administered the donation.

"The foreign minister of Saudi Arabia has also confirmed that the funds came from Saudi Arabia."

The spokesperson was responding to a WSJ article which alleged that more than US$1 billion had been deposited into the accounts of the prime minister and that much of it came from 1MDB.

The government spokesperson said it was telling that the Wall Street Journal and its sister were continuing their attacks and trying to link 1MDB to the donation.

"They keep repeating the same old allegations without providing evidence; they keep relying solely on anonymous sources that might not even exist; and they keep choosing to omit key known facts. This is unethical and against accepted journalistic practice," he said.

“The Wall Street Journal has become a willing vehicle for certain political actors who are seeking to damage the prime minister and Malaysia for personal gain. But this politically motivated anti-Najib campaign, which sought to use Western media, has failed."

The spokesperson added: “The prime minister is focused on the key issues that matter to Malaysia, especially combating the threat of terrorism, and strengthening the economy in the face of global headwinds. ‎

"Malaysia's recent growth figures, which surpassed expectations, confirm that the prime minister's economic plan is working.”

- Bernama