Edge stands by its reports

(The Star) – The Edge will stand by its reports on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), it said after receiving a show-cause letter from the Home Ministry.

The publisher and CEO of The Edge Media Group Ho Kay Tat said they were given seven days to provide a written explanation on why action should not be taken against The Edge Malaysia and The Edge Financial Daily under the Printing Presses and Publications Act 1984.

Ho said they believed their articles to be truthful and to date, no one mentioned in the articles had taken legal action against them.

“As we have stated previously, we stand by the articles we have published and we intend to show it,” said Ho.

He said they were accused of publishing articles on 1MDB that had created confusion and doubts about the Government and its financial institutions.

He said they were also accused of relying on an Internet portal for their articles.

Ho said the letter did not specify the articles and that in the last six months, they had published over 300 articles on 1MDB from various sources – Bernama, Bloomberg, Reuters, Business Times, Euromoney – and their own reporting from the media channels in The Edge Media Group.

“We will be compiling them to help any investigation into our alleged offences. We base our articles on carefully evaluated evidence,” said Ho.

Last Wednesday, Home Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi said The Edge Media Group owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong should be held responsible for “inaccurate reports” on 1MDB.

“The Edge and its owner Tong Kooi Ong must be held responsible for publishing inaccurate reports and false information. The Edge should have verified the facts before publishing the articles,” Zahid was quoted as saying.

Ho said they had asked the ministry for an extension of the seven days for them to reply in detail and that the ministry must clarify which articles were wrong and had created confusion about the Government.