THE Wall Street Journal has come out in defence of a story it published on wanted Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, following allegations that it was planted by Putrajaya.

Dow Jones & Company senior director of communications Steve Severinghaus said the paper has a long-standing tradition of tough, ethical and fair journalism with high standards – its hallmark for more than a century.

“The many investigations and other activities pertaining to 1Malaysia Development Bhd are the subject of legitimate public interest and serious journalistic scrutiny. Given that, we will continue to cover the story as we have, and in the same responsible manner.

“As always, we are open to talking with anyone who has questions, especially significant figures in ongoing news stories.”

He was responding to Low, better known as Jho Low, who slammed WSJ over an article alleging that he had sought refuge in China after the May 9 general election.

WSJ said Low, a central figure in the 1MDB scandal, is being protected by China, living in hotel suites and luxury apartments in a number of Chinese cities.

Low accused the writers of the article of breaching journalistic ethics by reporting on a matter to advance their book.

He was referring to Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood and the World, set for release next month, by WSJ writers Tom Wright and Bradley Hope, who have been reporting on the billionaire and 1MDB since 2015.

“The WSJ article was obviously planted there by the Mahathir regime, working with these reporters towards a common goal: the WSJ reporters have a book coming out next month that they are trying to sell, while Mahathir is intent on advancing his own corrupt political agenda by assigning guilt without any form of legal process,” said a spokesman for Low, referring to Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

“For WSJ, it is a gross breach of journalistic ethics. There is a clear conflict of interest in allowing reporters with a financial interest in a particular narrative to report on these matters.

“Any facts that get in the way of the themes of their upcoming book are ignored, while any source – no matter how self-interested – who advances their storyline is believed.”

The spokesman said before any evidence has been presented in any court, including in the US, the reporters have passed judgment, supporting Dr Mahathir’s regime that has proven “its utter disregard for anything resembling a fair legal process”.

Last month, Inspector-General of Police Mohamad Fuzi Harun said Low had been roaming in China, Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau, but refuted reports that the businessman was arrested in China.

Last week, Malaysia seized luxury yacht Equanimity, saying the US Department of Justice had confirmed that Low bought the vessel with funds siphoned off 1MDB.

Equanimity is among the assets – including paintings, jewellery and movie rights amounting to US$1.7 billion (RM6.9 billion) – allegedly bought with misappropriated 1MDB funds that the DoJ is seeking to recover in civil forfeiture suits. – August 18, 2018.