WSJ’s misreporting proven again, says PM’s aide

WSJ was allowing itself to be used as the willing vehicle of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Anti-Najib campaign

(Bernama) – The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) lies and total disregard for the facts in its reporting on Malaysia has been proven again, said the Press Secretary to the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Tengku Sariffuddin Tengku Ahmad (pic).

He said WSJ had reported as fact multiple times, including in reports by Ken Brown on April 20 and Tom Wright on March 11, that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak had appointed Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah as the new Bank Negara governor and that he was linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

This was despite no announcement having been made, and based on anonymous sources, he said in a statement here, Wednesday.

Tengku Sariffuddin said the new governor has been named on Wednesday, and it is Datuk Muhammad Ibrahim, the current deputy governor.

Muhammad was appointed the new governor for five years effective May 1, the Prime Minister’s Office announced.

Muhammad, who was deputy governor since 2010, will take over the position from Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akthar Aziz, 68, who retires on April 30.

Tengku Sariffuddin said unfortunately, many believe WSJ’s reporting because they do not realise that the publication was allowing itself to be used as the willing vehicle of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s Anti-Najib campaign, just for the sake of sensational headlines.

The most basic duty of any journalist is to check the facts, especially if the allegations are serious and from political opponents.

But WSJ continues to report anonymously sourced lies as facts. It is a disgrace to journalism. As proved again, Malaysians can’t believe anything it says, he said.