Salleh Keruak calls for probe on WSJ about latest allegation

(The Sun Daily) – Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak called for an investigation on the Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) latest report which alleged that a US$1.4 billion (RM6.1 billion) payment had gone missing from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He said that it was not fair to the government and 1MDB for WSJ to make such accusations and action must be taken against them and their source.

Salleh said that if a member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has leaked information, as alleged by the WSJ, then action must be taken on the informant.

“We have to investigate the source of their information. If it is from the PAC, we must of course investigate who among the members leaked the information,” he said during a press conference at the pre-launch of the Malaysian Cyber Games today.

He said that 1MDB has already given their explanation and now action must be taken on those who leaked such information.

This comes in the wake of a report by the WSJ claiming that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has raised questions on a US$1.4 billion payment from 1MDB that allegedly did not reach the country’s sovereign fund, International Petroleum Co (IPIC).

In its article, WSJ claimed to have sighted a draft report by the Auditor General on 1MDB as well as a transcript of proceedings held by a parliamentary committee investigating the issue.

1MDB issued a statement on Wednesday defending their audits and expressing concern over an attempt to “prejudice the PAC investigations and deny 1MDB its right to due process as provided for by the laws of Malaysia”.

1MDB claims that the PAC is the only source for the leaked transcripts and said it was unlawful for a member of the committee to publish these documents before the report was presented to Parliament.