Minister slams Sarawak Report editor for maligning Najib on UK’s Sky TV
(The Malaysian Insider) – Umno minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak today accused Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle Brown of “spinning on Sky News in the United Kingdom”.
Writing in his blog sskeruak.blogspot.com, the Communications and Multimedia minister said that Brown, whom the Malaysian police wanted to put on Interpol’s wanted list but failed, made accusations against the Malaysian government but neglected to provide proof.
“Last night, Clare Rewcastle Brown of Sarawak Report went on Sky TV news in the UK to talk about her ‘fight’ for Malaysia. She talked at length about how she uncovered evidence of corruption involving the prime minister (Datuk Seri Najib Razak).
“She did not, however, explain how she had obtained this so-called evidence. In fact, it is alleged that some of the evidence had been tampered or doctored.
“We know that this ‘evidence’ could not have dropped from the sky, so how did she manage to get it? Or did someone give her whatever evidence she claims she obtained because she was actually being used and was a tool of this person to embarrass the prime minister?” he said.
Rewcastle Brown is wanted by the Malaysian police over the exposes by Sarawak Report on troubled state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Putrajaya, which has since blocked access to the whistleblower site but with limited success, has been trying to extradite her to face charges in Malaysia for allegedly threatening parliamentary democracy.
The police had recently requested for the London-based Rewcastle Brown to be put on the Interpol’s wanted list, but the request was rejected on August 9.
Salleh said people who did not know Malaysia would probably “be very impressed with Clare (Rewcastle Brown) who was trying to give an impression that she was a crusader for truth and justice”.
He challenged her to reveal who she was working for and how much she was being paid.
“Why does Clare not be really truthful and reveal who she is serving and how much that master is paying Sarawak Report because she has confessed that she does receive foreign funding without being transparent enough with the details?
“Clare talks as if Najib has already been convicted or indicted of a crime. As a veteran journalist surely Clare knows that one is innocent until and unless proven guilty.
“Clare, however, talks as if the evidence is conclusive and she knows for a fact that the prime minister is guilty just because she says so. Clare is judge, jury and executioner all in one,” he said.
Salleh went on to accuse Rewcastle Brown of distorting the truth when she spoke about the jailing of former opposition leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
“She talks about the government jailing Anwar Ibrahim on trumped up charges but she did not mention that Anwar refused to take the stand to testify and neither did he summon his dozen or so witnesses to court to support his alibi.
“In fact, he did not even produce an alibi. And that was why Anwar was convicted and not for the reasons that Clare says,” he said.
Salleh also slammed Rewcastle Brown for suggesting that it should be the Malaysian opposition in government now, not BN by saying that the opposition won more than 50% of the votes during the last polls.
“I am surprised that Clare is not aware that that in the Westminster parliamentary system, it is the party that wins the most number of seats that gets to form the government and not the party that wins the most number of votes.
“Is this not what happened in the UK during the last two elections as well?” he said.
