WSJ publisher replies to PM’s lawyers, again insists 1MDB exposé accurate
(MMO) – Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) publisher Dow Jones & Company has confirmed that it responded last week to Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lawyer’s letter and said it told the prime minister’s legal team that it will continue to stand by the accuracy of its articles on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
A spokesman from Dow Jones did not expressly state, however, if the firm plans on invoking for its defence the SPEECH Act, a federal statutory law in the US that may render any judgment in a defamation suit mounted by the prime minister unenforceable there.
“We have sent another letter in response and have confirmed that we will not be waiving any of our defences.
“We continue to stand behind our fair and accurate reporting of this evolving story,” Dow Jones told Malay Mail Online in an email this morning.
Asked if the firm had answered queries from Najib’s legal team on whether it intends to use the SPEECH Act as its shield in the matter, the Dow Jones spokesman said: “Yes the letter from Dow Jones responded to the most recent lawyer letter and as mentioned below, confirmed that we will not be waiving any of our defences.”
The spokesman also confirmed that it had issued its response “early last week”, which appeared to contradict recent media statements made by Najib’s lawyers.
