Sarawak Report only paid my expenses, says reporter Lester Melanyi

Former Sarawak journalist Lester Melanyi says he tried to alert a few people of the attempt by Sarawak Report and opposition leaders to frame the prime minister over 1MDB. – YouTube screenshot, July 17, 2015.

Former Sarawak journalist Lester Melanyi has denied claims he was paid to make a video alleging a plot hatched by the founder and editor of whistle-blower site Sarawak Report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

However, he admitted that he was paid for his expenses when he flew to Kuala Lumpur to make the video in June, The Star reported today.

“I’m not denying that my trip to KL (and) hotels (were) all paid for, and they gave me RM1,000 to RM2,000 for my expenses. That’s all. The term ‘pay’ here is different,” he was quoted as saying in an interview with the English-language daily in Kuching.

He said he tried to tell several people about the alleged plot where Sarawak Report and opposition leaders had worked together to forge documents about 1MDB and Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak before the website published its exposes, but only Pertubuhan Minda and Social Prihatin president Ramesh Rao Krishnan Naidu believed him.

Rao subsequently lodged a police on Wednesday and handed the video, which was recorded by the NGO leader, to the force as well.

He claimed he could not keep silent if lies were used to topple Najib.

"My conscience asked me to act. It’s not fair for a man to go down because of lies. If it’s because he’s not popular, because of something else, fine,” he was further quoted as saying in the report, adding that he has no hand in the alleged plot or forging of 1MDB documents.

- TMI