WSJ’s malicious intent is to force me to resign, says Najib

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak accuses the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of having 'malicious intent' and being in cahoots with certain quarters in the country to bring him down. – The Malaysian Insider pic, July 8, 2015.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak today accused the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) of having "malicious intent" and being in cahoots with certain quarters in the country to bring him down, after the daily reported that billions of ringgit were pumped into his personal accounts.

"I would like to once again state that I have never taken 1MDB's funds for my personal use," said Najib on his blog, referring to troubled state investment firm 1Malaysia Development Bhd.

"Wall Street Journal's accusations are a malicious intent supported by certain quarters in the country, with the purpose of forcing me to resign as prime minister and Umno president."

He said he had directed his lawyers to send a letter to WSJ requesting that it explain its report, adding that they would take further action after receiving a response.

"The Special Task Force is carrying out an investigation to determine whether the accusations by the Wall Street Journal that I had taken 1MDB's funds for personal use are substantiated.

"The investigation must take into account the authenticity of the documents that were released to support the publications' actions," said Najib.

WSJ yesterday posted documents detailing the money trail online, and said it was sourced from a "Malaysian government investigation”.

The documents include a remittance application form, a cash deposit authorisation letter and charts outlining the flow of money.

In those forms, details of payment were listed as fund transfers for “CSR programmes”.

Some numbers, however, were blanked out in the documents.

WSJ alleged in its report last Thursday that the funds were transferred to Najib's personal bank accounts just before the 13th general election.

- TMI