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Opposition politician investigated for using 1MDB documents to attack Najib

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian police are investigating an opposition politician who had allegedly purchased confidential documents of a Saudi oil and gas company linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that are being used to attack Prime Minister Najib Razak.

KUALA LUMPUR — The Malaysian police are investigating an opposition politician who had allegedly purchased confidential documents of a Saudi oil and gas company linked to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) that are being used to attack Prime Minister Najib Razak.

“We have identified him and will be calling him in,” the Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar told reporters yesterday, referring to an opposition leader whose name was reportedly disclosed by a former PetroSaudi International executive, Xavier Justo, to Thai police on Thursday.

Justo was arrested last month after PetroSaudi accused him of demanding payment in exchange for not disclosing confidential data.

At a press conference on Thursday, Thai police spokesman Prawut Thavornsiri said that in admitting to the alleged blackmail, Justo had also claimed to have met an important member of a Malaysian opposition party and a media tycoon at a hotel in Singapore before allegedly selling them classified information from PetroSaudi International.

Thai police did not provide any details about the documents and information in the alleged blackmail attempt, and did not say whether they were linked to 1MDB, Malaysia’s debt-laden state investment firm that is at the centre of a political crisis confronting the Malaysian Prime Minister.

However, Malaysian media had previously reported that the confidential documents from PetroSaudi International were related to the company’s aborted joint venture with 1MDB.

Mr Khalid said the police will haul in those involved if they refuse to cooperate.

“We will investigate all of them. We hope that they will give full cooperation to us, if not we will take action by catching and remanding them in police lock-up,” he said, adding that the Malaysian authorities have already contacted the Thai police and are working closely with them.

1MDB is not only being audited for its RM42 million (S$15.1 million) debt pile, but is also under investigation by a special government task force following a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report on July 3, which alleged that US$700 million (S$956 million) was funnelled into two of the Prime Minister’s personal bank accounts.

Mr Najib has denied taking funds from 1MDB for “personal gain” and said the WSJ’s allegations were part of political sabotage by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad to unseat him.

Dr Mahathir has been at the forefront of attacks against the Najib administration, particularly over its management of 1MDB.

Opposition leaders have also called for Mr Najib to take a leave of absence while the authorities investigate the WSJ claims, but the call has not gained traction after most of the ruling United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) members closed ranks behind Mr Najib.

Yesterday, Communications and Multimedia Minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek weighed in on the latest developments by challenging opposition politicians to deny that they had not met Justo nor bought confidential documents related to PetrolSaudi from him. Mr Shabery Cheek also claimed the allegations against Mr Najib was a “political conspiracy” to topple the government.

“This conspiracy is one of the things that can destroy our country and it can sabotage our economy, sabotage our politics and is a betrayal to our country,” he said. AGENCIES

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