The Edge gets show-cause letter

(The Sun Daily) – The Home Ministry has issued a show-cause letter to The Edge Media Group, believed to be over the company’s publication of news regarding 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

A ministry spokesman confirmed this when contacted by theSun.

“It was sent on Monday, and we are waiting for the reply,” the spokesman said, but declined to disclose which news article the ministry had highlighted in the letter.

Last week, Home Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had warned The Edge and its owner, Datuk Tong Kooi Ong, that publishing permits issued to the media group can be revoked over news reports concerning 1MDB, as leaked information on the government investment arm might have been tampered with.

He said the company had to take responsibility for reporting inaccurate news and factual errors.

“The Edge should confirm the facts first before writing reports. Such false reports can tarnish journalistic ethics and the ministry can cancel or retract publishing permits,” he was reported as saying.

The statement from Ahmad Zahid follows news that a former PetroSaudi International employee, Xavier Andre Justo, had been arrested in Thailand for alleged blackmail and fabrication of information leaked to UK-based website Sarawak Report.

Ahmad Zahid said Sarawak Report had been the prime source of “false information” which was subsequently republished by The Edge and other media outlets.

1MDB also issued a statement last week, noting that initial investigations surrounding Justo’s arrest showed that some leaked emails had been tampered with.