Najib Razak given 14 days to respond to the WSJ

Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak asked the publisher of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to state its position in relation to the publication of two articles.

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak asked the publisher of The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) to state its position in relation to the publication of two articles alleging money 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was channeled into his personal account.

In a letter dated July 8 to WSJ publisher, Dow Jones and Company Inc., a law firm Najib Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak said he had asked the company to "clarify the stance" is it true that Najib has deviated number US700 million (RM2.6 billion) property 1MDB company.

"We are instructed to get your position as articles collectively suggest that you're not sure," the original source of the money is and what happened to the money involved, "while on the other hand, it creates a clear picture that our clients have misused about US $ 700 million (2.6 billion) held by 1MDB, "the letter said.

The letter also gave 14 days to the WSJ explains if they have to appoint a lawyer in Malaysia and on behalf of the journalist who wrote the article involved if legal proceedings are required.

The letter focuses on two articles entitled "Malaysia leader's accounts probed 'dated July 2 and" Scandal in Malaysia' dated July 6, written by Simon Clark and Tom Wright.

Here are the full content of the letter released:

The Board Of Directors, Dow Jones & Company, Inc.

We act for the Right Honourable Dato 'Sri Mohd Najib bin Tun Haji Abdul Razak, the Prime Minister of Malaysia, in his personal capacity.

We refer to the Articles dated 2nd July 2015 and 6th July 2015 in your Wall Street Journal which, we state, contains a plethora of convoluted, scurrilous and vague allegations against our client.

In the circumstances, we are instructed by our client to seek confirmation as to whether it is your position as taken in the Articles that our Client misappropriated nearly USD 700 million from the 1Malaysia Development Berhad?

We are instructed to procure your position because the Articles collectively suggest that you are unsure of "the original source of the money and what happened to the money" whilst on the other hand, the general gist of the Articles create a clear impression that our Client has misappropriated about $ 700 million belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad.

In the circumstance and in the interests of our client, we would expect a Newspaper of your international standing and reputation to state unequivocally and with clarity as to whether it is your contention that our Client misappropriated about $ 700 million belonging to 1Malaysia Development Berhad. You will no doubt appreciate the seriousness of the allegations made against our client in the said Articles and this confirmation is sought to enable us to advise our clients on the appropriate legal recourse he can take to seek redress in relation to the publication of these Articles.

We demand a reply within fourteen (14) days of the date hereof and please let us know whether you have appointed solicitors in Malaysia to accept service of legal proceedings on your behalf and on behalf of the reporters who wrote the Articles in the event that legal proceeding become necessary.
We hereby reserve all our client's rights in this matter.