Utusan Malaysia displayed in a shop. Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated and state investment firm Darul Ehsan Investment Group Sdn Bhd are demanding a retraction of articles from TV3, Utusan Malaysia and the New Straits Times over several articles which are said to be defamatory. – The Malaysian Insider filepic, October 1, 2015.
Menteri Besar Selangor Incorporated (MBI) and state investment firm Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG) Sdn Bhd are demanding a public apology and a retraction of articles from three Umno linked companies, which they said were defamatory and had tarnished their reputation.
MBI has served letters of demand on September 25 to broadcaster Sistem Televisyen Malaysia Berhad (TV3) and newspaper publishers Utusan Melayu (M) Berhad and The New Straits Times Press (M) Berhad.
"MBI demands a full and unequivocal public retraction of the damaging allegations and a proper public apology, to be published in terms to be approved by MBI within seven days from the date of the letters of demand issued failing which, MBI will commence legal proceedings without any notice," MBI said in a statement today.
The offending articles first appeared in NST on August 21 under the heading, “Why No State Officials in DEIG?” , and was followed by the article “Aset RM30B Boleh Lebur Bila-bila Masa” in Utusan on August 22.
On September 2, TV3 aired a live talk show on DEIG, titled "Soal Jawab: Skandal RM30 billion DEIG".
MBI said the articles and show contained various defamatory allegations against MBI and DEIG, with the aim to "degrade" the two entities among the public.
The statement said the defamatory allegations meant that the public would have the impression that DEIG will or has undertaken dishonest and corrupt practises, will misuse or has misused the Selangor government assets or public funds or will or has involved in dubious transactions to the detriment the state government and public.
It said since DEIG is a new entity incorporated to manage the investments under MBI, MBI is also responsible, approved, instructed, procured, condoned and/or involved in alleged activities of the former.
"These publications have tarnished the reputation of and further caused considerable distress and embarrassment to DEIG and ultimately MBI resulting in hatred, contempt or ridicule, suspicion and resentment towards MBI and DEIG, respectively.
"The allegations made in the publications are entirely inaccurate, baseless, malicious and false and made without care, diligence and devoid of ‘fair journalism’ practice," MBI added.
DEIG has come under criticism, with some likening it to debt-ridden 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).
Former Selangor menteri besar Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim had asked why DEIG was not under any state enactments and did not need to table its financial statements to the state assembly sitting, despite being responsible for the state's RM6.3 billion investment assets.
Khalid's successor Mohamed Azmin Ali had denied similarities between his brainchild, and 1MDB said that DEIG would not have any impact on the state since the entity was only responsible for investment matters, while its policies would be decided by MBI and the state government.
He said the concept was similar to that practised by the federal government whereby the MOF Incorporated was fully owned by the Finance Ministry, but investments were handled by Khazanah Nasional Berhad.
- TMI
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