KUALA LUMPUR - Word is out that media tycoon Tong Kooi Ong will be arrested and charged with conspiracy to subvert and overthrow Prime Minister Najib Razak's government, say political sources.
If true, the arrest will further roil Malaysia's currency and stock markets, which have tumbled amid prolonged political upheaval and exacerbated by Najib's shock sacking of his deputy Muhyiddin Yassin on Tuesday in what many claim was a bid to cling to power.
"Malaysians are not born yesterday, most have already made up their minds on the issue. The perception is Najib sacked Muhyiddin and the Attorney General to foil a move to arrest him corruption in the 1MDB scandal," a political source told Malaysia Chronicle.
"Arresting Tong will further anger the business and corporate citizens. To them, it is clear who and what is causing the trouble and they are not happy with Najib."
In hot soup after accusing Najib's 'golden boy' Jho Low of defrauding Malaysia
Tong, the chairman of media group The Edge, has already rubbished allegations of conspiring with UK-based Sarawak Report.
“We have done nothing wrong and we are here to assist investigators unlike some who seem to have disappeared," Tong had said in a joint statement issued with The Edge CEO Ho Kay Tat after it was revealed that he had met with 1MDB whistle-blower Xavier Justo in Singapore.
“But this is not about Justo, neither is it about us. It is about a scheme to cheat the people of Malaysia of US$1.83 billion through the 1MDB-PetroSaudi joint venture.”
1MDB is Najib's heavily debt-laden sovereign fund. Massive corruption have been uncovered and revealed in numerous reports by Tong's publications, the Sarawak Report as well as numerous prominent media such as the Wall Street Journal.
Among the many questionable money trails is one that shows RM2.6 bil diverted into Najib's personal bank accounts, which he has not denied although he claims he did not use the money for 'personal gain'.
In what is widely perceived as a purge to save himself, Najib had controversially sacked Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin and the Attorney General Gani Patail. The move expected on Monday came a day later after alleged failure to come to terms with Muhyiddin, who wants the 1MDB wrongdoers caught and charged.
To be arrested today?
Meanwhile, Tong is expected to be charged under the Penal for subversion and he may be detained as early as today. It is possible that Ho may face the same charges.
According to national news agency Bernama, the self-made tycoon and Ho have been called up again by the federal police to facilitate investigations into The Edge's 1MDB articles that have detailed massive fraud, implicating Najib and his crony Jho Low.
Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar said the duo should have been present at the federal police headquarters in Bukit Aman yesterday, but it was postponed due to the demise of Tong’s mother.
“Tong requested a postponement due to his mother’s death,” he told reporters, according to Bernama. - Malaysia Chronicle
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