By P Prem Kumar
KUALA LUMPUR
The Wall Street Journal article, which accused Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak of swindling $700 million of public funds into his personal accounts, is confusing, says the premier's lawyer.
Mohd Hafarizam Harun said the article published on July 2 did not clarify whether the alleged fund was from state investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
The first two paragraphs of the article implied that the money was from 1MDB but in the fifth and sixth paragraphs, the words "unknown source" were stated.
"This requires a clarification. How can they contradict on their facts in a single article," he told a press conference Monday.
Harun said a letter of clarification was sent to WSJ's publisher Dow Jones, according to legal procedures. The clarification is vital for the lawyers to advise Razak on the best next course of action.
So far, the lawyer said his firm, Messrs Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, had yet to receive any reply from the WSJ regarding their stand on the allegations in the articles published July 2 and 6.
The WSJ has until July 21 to reply to the letter, which was sent on July 8, he added.
Earlier this month, Sarawak Report and the Wall Street Journal accused Razak of swindling US$700 million from state investment arm of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) into two of his personal bank accounts.
A special task force consisting of Att. Gen. Abdul Gani Patail, Police Insp. Gen. Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chairman Abu Kassim Mohamed and Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz has been set up to look into the allegations.
The task force has frozen six bank accounts and seized documents related to 17.
It is also investigating one of his wife's accounts, after a revelation by Sarawak that some 2 million Ringgit ($527,987) was deposited into it.
