Evidence shows Sarawak Report falsified information: Rahman Dahlan

(Bernama) – Several Umno supreme council members have expressed regret over excessive speculations made against 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said some quarters had used the information by Sarawak Report without knowing the truth.

“I believe there are evidence which show that Sarawak Report has falsified the information and has used unethical approach to defame our leadership,” he told reporters after attending the Umno supreme council meeting here, Friday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said in a press conference after the meeting that the government would take appropriate action against the portal soon after receiving the official investigation report from Thailand.

Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek said the arrest of PetroSaudi International (PSI) Ltd executive Xavier Justo, who was alleged to be involved in spreading inaccurate information about 1MDB, could be an eye-opener to many people.

The Communications and Multimedia Minister said the people should seek to verify any news they read in the Internet before jumping into conclusions.

“We are in the midst of gathering information about individuals who spread false information about 1MDB on social media to facilitate investigation,” he said.

Thai police were reported to have arrested Justo and charged him with blackmailing PSI, an international company based in Saudi Arabia, for its cooperation with 1MDB.

Another Umno supreme council member, Datuk Bung Moktar Radin, meanwhile, expressed hope that the party would be able to strengthen its leadership line-up for the sake of the country.

He said the negative perception of the public should be addressed quickly by the party so that the people would not continue believing all the baseless allegations hurled at Umno.