1MDB hits out at The Edge for ‘recycled’ unproven claims
Tong Kooi Ong, one-time Anwar Ibrahim crony and the man behind The Edge
(Malay Mail Online) – Debt-riddled state investor 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) chided The Edge Financial Daily today (July 20), accusing the paper of sensational journalism by regurgitating “old and unproven” allegations against it even as investigations are ongoing.
“We are surprised that these old and unproven allegations are being recycled yet again, when in fact there are multiple ongoing investigations being conducted by the lawful authorities on the issues raised previously.
“Any party which can assist investigators should do so under the purview of the law, without resorting to such irresponsible and unnecessary sensationalism,” the company wholly-owned by the Finance Ministry said in a brief statement in response to The Edge’s front page news report released this morning.
The under-pressure firm reiterated its support for the due processes of the law.
In what it says may be its last report, The Edge Financial Daily had published today another expose on 1MDB, this time detailing Penang-born tycoon Low Taek Jho’s alleged role in the multibillion ringgit controversy.
The business paper currently under investigation for its previous articles on the scandal claimed that the US$1.83 billion (S$2.51 billion) that state-owned 1MDB had invested in Middle Eastern oil company PetroSaudi International (PSI) between 2009 and 2011 was a scheme to defraud Malaysia that involved Low.
The Edge Financial Daily, is published by The Edge Communications of The Edge Media Group that also publishes The Edge Malaysia weekly.
The paper has been issued a show-case letter by the Home Ministry on July 1 for publishing unverified news on debt-laden 1MDB.
The Edge Financial Daily’s report today follows the government’s move to restrict local access to UK-based whistleblower website Sarawak Report, which has also been reporting on 1MDB’s alleged financial mismanagement, pending the completion of an investigation on the state-owned fund.