KUALA LUMPUR • The Edge Media Group said it is giving to Malaysian government investigators printed documents and the hard disk that contains bank transfers and statements linked to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.
Its business paper, The Edge Financial Daily, is under investigation for previously publishing reports about the unfolding 1MDB saga.
Yesterday, it ran a four-page report on why it claims businessman Jho Low and PetroSaudi International have cheated Malaysia of US$1.83 billion (S$2.5 billion).
Publisher Ho Kay Tat wrote a note on the front page saying its article could be the newspaper's last about 1MDB. "We have a public duty to find and report the truth. After this report, which could be our last, we will hand over everything we have to the authorities investigating 1MDB and assist in any way we can," the note said.
The report referred to the paper's allegations that 1MDB's joint venture with the Saudi-based oil exploration and services company between 2009 and 2011 was "a scheme to defraud Malaysia".
It also discussed the role of Mr Jho Low as well as the purported trail of international money laundering, and claimed that it was corroborated by documents including bank statements.
The Edge had previously been issued a show-cause letter by the Home Ministry regarding its reporting on the issue. Home Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi had also stated that tycoon Tong Kooi Ong, who owns the media group, should be held responsible for "inaccurate reports" on 1MDB.
1MDB issued a statement yesterday in which it slammed The Edge for publishing "old, unsubstantiated and recycled" allegations. Any party that could assist investigators should do so under the purview of the law, without resorting to such irresponsible and unnecessary sensationalism, it said.
Meanwhile, Malaysian police said yesterday that they have not yet obtained the approval of Thai police to question former PetroSaudi executive Xavier Andre Justo, reported The Star.
Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar said a formal request had been made to Thailand, and a team has been formed to go to Bangkok to carry out the investigations.
Thai police arrested Justo on June 22 on charges of blackmailing PetroSaudi. He allegedly sold the data he had taken from the company to opposition leaders and media figures.
