WHY are there no Barisan Nasional leaders defending Najib Razak over international reports linking him to the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal, asked Sim Tze Tzin.

The PKR strategic director said only Deputy Communication And Multimedia Minister Jailani Johari defended Najib and categorised these reports as “fake news”.

“I am curious and annoyed why are there no government leaders defending the prime minister and explaining the issue to the people?

“Are they also affected by this news? Or are they turning a blind eye and hoping the news will go away?” he said in a press conference in Parliament today.

The Bayan Baru MP said if there were no BN leaders who were willing to defend Najib, then the prime minister should answer the “accusations” to clear his name.

Last Sunday, Jailani said foreign media put up fake news about 1MDB to tarnish Najib’s good name.

He warned and named the foreign media to stop putting up fake news on 1MDB, which had been mired in scandal over its debts and how its money was purportedly used to fund luxury purchases and movie productions.

Sim said Najib’s explanation of these claims is important as indirectly, it will burden BN leaders during the GE14 campaigning process.

“The prime minister represents Malaysians. We cannot tarnish the good name of our leader with all sorts of accusations.

“I call on the prime minister to clear his name before dissolving Parliament.

“He should lead BN in the general election with a good name. If not, BN candidates will have to answer to the accusations during the campaigning,” he said.

Jailani said the ministry had identified several online news portals trying to revive the 1MDB case after the confiscating of The Equanimity yacht.

The portals are Wall Street Journal, New York Times, The Economist, Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and MSNBC. – March 15, 2018.