‘unwarranted attack on PM will a ect economy
PETALING JAYA: The Finance Ministry has warned that unwarranted attacks against the Prime Minister will affect the economy.
Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah said those who had information on alleged discrepancies or breach of rules and regulations, should lodge reports with the relevant authorities instead of feeding unverified information to foreign media, which could be used against the interest of the country.
Husni said people should not get emotionally worked up over unsubstantiated reports by The Wall Street Journal and Sarawak Report, which had gone viral.
“Let’s tackle this issue rationally, rather than letting emotions cloud judgment. By reacting irresponsibly, we will only be sabotaging our economy and jeopardising our own future,” he said.
1MDB had refuted claims by WSJ and the London-based Sarawak Report, which said funds were channelled to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s accounts.
In its follow up report on Friday, WSJ said Washington viewed Malaysia as a bulwark against China’s growing territorial ambitions in the South China Sea.
The journal noted that 1MDB was set up in 2009 as a strategic development fund to develop new industries and turn Kuala Lumpur into a global financial centre, and to develop oil fields abroad.
It said unlike sovereign-wealth funds, 1MDB financed itself through issuing debt and now owed more than US$11bil (RM41.6bil), adding that foreign investors owned about half of the Malaysian government bonds.