Shahrir: The Edge cannot be judge and jury

(Malay Mail Online) – The three-month suspension of The Edge Weekly and the The Edge Financial Daily is fair and necessary for the government to establish the truth about its reports on the 1MDB controversy, said Barisan Nasional Backbenchers Club chief Tan Sri Shahrir Samad.

He said the two publications have published reports which they claimed were the ‘truth’ in wanting to “expose someone who wants to cheat the country of US$1.83 billion (RM7 billion)”.

“So much has been written and said. So many accusations were made. But twho are they to say what they have published is the truth?” he asked yesterday.

He said the publications knew Xavier Andre Justo had stolen data and information from his former employer PetroSaudi International and yet they were willing to pay for something which was stolen.

“The Edge cannot play the role of judge and jury and cannot go on trumpeting what they have done is right.

“My contention is the government’s message to them is clear and simple. Quieten down and take it easy. Three months is what we need while we investigate,” said Shahrir, a former chairman of the Public Accounts Committee.

Shahrir added The Edge should put their trust in the institutions to establish the truth.

“Even the Chief Justice has been suspended before. Parliament too was suspended in 1969. So suspending The Edge, which is only a media organisation, is nothing out of the ordinary. The world can say what they want but who are they to judge us.

“No press freedom? That’s their view. I am sure they will be others who think what we have done is right.”