Najib to sue WSJ, says daily

Datuk Seri Najib Razak denies taking funds from 1MDB, blaming Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for orchestrating the attacks against him. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 4, 2015.

Datuk Seri Najib Razak will take legal action against the Wall Street Journal over an article yesterday claiming that billions of ringgit were channelled into the prime minister’s private bank accounts, Sinar Harian reported today.

The prime minister's political secretary, Datuk Muhammad Khairun Aseh, was quoted as saying the report was criminal defamation.

The WSJ had alleged that funds from debt-ridden state-owned 1Malaysia Development Bhd were diverted into Najib’s accounts prior to the 13th general election.

Khairun said: "The report was done with bad intention and unsubstantiated and based on poor and dubious sources.

"We will take legal action,” he told the Malay daily.

The business daily said US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB and finally ending up in the prime minister's personal accounts in five separate deposits.

Both WSJ and also whistle-blower site Sarawak Report quoted documents from the 1MDB probe carried out by the Malaysian government, with Sarawak Report claiming that the Attorney-General was also aware of the information. 

Last night, Najib took to Facebook to refute the allegations, saying that he had never taken funds for personal gains from 1MDB or any other entity.

Najib blamed Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for orchestrating the attacks against him after he refused to implement the latter’s personal demands, adding that the former prime minister then “created a crisis” by recklessly claiming that RM42 billion was missing from 1MDB.

"The latest allegation is that I have taken state-linked funds for personal gain.

"I believe Tun, working hand in glove with foreign nationals, including the now discredited political attack blog Sarawak Report, is behind this latest lie.

"Let me be very clear: I have never taken funds for personal gain as alleged by my political opponents – whether from 1MDB, SRC International or other entities, as these companies have confirmed," Najib said on Facebook.

1MDB is the subject of inquiries by a number of authorities, including the auditor-general, Bank Negara, police and the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee.

Najib, who is also finance minister and chairs 1MDB's advisory board, has come under severe criticism in recent months over a number of issues, including 1MDB which has amassed RM42 billion in debts after just six years of it being set up.

- TMI