Edge owner Tong accuses Jho Low of online attacks, starts legal action

(Malay Mail Online) – A battle of billionaires is brewing after media tycoon Datuk Tong Kooi Ong today accused business magnate Low Taek Jho of being responsible for anonymous allegations that the former was sabotaging the Malaysian economy.

Tong, whose media units this week identified a “pro-Jho Low” blogger as the person behind anonymous blogs targeting him, is also following through with his previous threat to sue those accusing him of intentionally undermining the ringgit for profit.

“I believe Low Taek Jho or Jho Low is the person responsible for the malicious lies and fabrications against The Edge Media Group and I through several blogs using the WordPress blogging platform.

“This morning, my lawyers served on Jho Low a demand that he cease and desist fabricating the malicious lies against The Edge, The Malaysian Insider and I in the following blogs: malaysianexpose.wordpress.com and kronismemahathir.wordpress.com,” Tong said in a statement today.

Today, Tong elaborated on the discovery of an “ahrily90” as the author of the blogs allegedly attacking him and other critics of 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), such as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and CIMB group chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.

He explained that the individual was also behind blogs penned with other screen names that targeted the three ostensibly over their past and current criticism of the state investment firm.

“Besides the above blogs used to attack us, ahrily90 is also responsible for these blogs ― bisnes2malaysia.wordpress.com, worldofcorporate.wordpress.com, and todayinbusiness.wordpress.com.

“These blogs exclusively promote Jho Low, 1 Malaysia Development Bhd and their businesses,” Tong added in deducing the blogger’s relationship to Low.

The investment banker turned media tycoon also insisted that critical reporting of the state investor was not tantamount to economic sabotage, but was instead helping the country find ways to improve its current situation.

On Monday, The Edge alleged that a blogger it identified only by the user name “ahrily90” was behind allegations of economic sabotage against Tong as well as other anonymous blogs attacking Dr Mahathir and Nazir, both of whom it identified as vocal critics of 1MDB.

Dr Mahathir on Wednesday said that the attacks against online critics of 1MDB were meant to undermine the credibility of his enquiries into its debt and finances.

Low is regularly associated to 1MDB through his involvement in its predecessor, Terengganu Investment Authority, as well as the Abu Dhabi funders that back the state investor.