PUTRAJAYA : Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan lambasted Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for repeatedly reporting false accusations on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) issue.
Rahman said it had been proven that there was no link between 1MDB and the donation to the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“The funds came from Saudi Arabia and this has been confirmed by multiple authorities. After comprehensive investigations, the Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has concluded that the funds came from the Saudi Arabia and it was confirmed by its foreign minister.
“He had also agreed with our Attorney-General's decision and concurred that there was no wrongdoing on the part of our Prime Minister. Switzerland’s Attorney-General has also confirmed that the Prime Minister is not being investigated.
“The WSJ continues to ignore these facts, while continually failing to provide any evidence to back up their wild accusations – which all originated with the Prime Minister’s opponents, who only care about their own political gain, no matter what the cost to Malaysia. “ he said in a statement, today.
Rahman, who is also the Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, said the UK’s BBC and The Telegraph had also published editorials that contradict WSJ.
He said the BBC's decorated veteran, Frank Gardner confirmed with his highly placed source in Saudi Arabia, that the funding had been authorised at the highest level of the kingdom and such funding, according to him, was a norm.
“Who then should we believe? WSJ's journalists - whose domain is mainly financial news - or BBC's Middle East specialist when it comes to the accuracy of information coming out of Saudi Arabia?” he asked.
He said the baseless and unproven accusations were intended to damage Malaysia and its economic development, but the government would not allow this.
The Prime Minister, he added, remains steadfast in his plan to strengthen the country’s economy and help the people.