WSJ still mum on 1MDB articles as deadline ends today, says report

Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s lawyers say The Wall Street Journal has yet to respond to their letter requesting clarification on claims that billions of ringgit were channelled into the prime minister’s account. – The Malaysian Insider file pic, July 21, 2015.

The Wall Street Journal has yet to respond to the legal letter sent by the prime minister's lawyers to state their stand on claims that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was channelled into Datuk Seri Najib Razak's personal accounts.

Lawyer Wan Azmir Wan Majid, speaking on behalf of legal firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak, said the firm had yet to receive a response to the letter sent to WSJ publisher, Dow Jones, on July 8, adding that the deadline ends today.

"If we don't receive anything by today, then Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak has a few legal options.

"Among them would be to sue or to issue a letter of demand to WSJ," Wan Azmir was quoted as saying today by Bahasa Malaysia daily, Berita Harian.

Previously, lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun said that the WSJ article, published on July 2, did not clarify whether the money reportedly deposited into Najib's accounts was from debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (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, and this requires a clarification, he said.

As such, the lawyer sent a letter of clarification to WSJ regarding their stand on the allegations in their articles published on July 2 and 6.

Wan Azmir also said that the publisher's silence gave the impression of an admission of guilt.

"The failure of Dow Jones to reply or explain the allegations made can be construed as an admission of guilt," the prime minister's lawyer said.

Najib’s critics have urged the prime minister to sue WSJ to disprove the allegations against him. He has denied taking 1MDB funds for personal use but has not directly addressed the fund transfers to his accounts.

WSJ had alleged that US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) was moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB before ending up in Najib's personal accounts. The paper cited investigation documents from an ongoing Malaysian probe.

Najib and his office have denied the allegation, calling it political sabotage. The prime minister also blames Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad of working with foreign agents to attack his administration.

- TMI