Datuk Tong Kooi Ong continues to face questions over the alleged 'attack' on the Malaysian ringgit despite denials and exposing the source behind the allegations made in various blogs. – The Malaysian Insider pic, February 8, 2015.The Edge owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong needs to face the media and make a statement in person so as to clear himself of alleged economic sabotage, Umno mouthpiece Utusan Malaysia said today.In an article titled "Berani tampil jika bukan pengkhianat" (Come forward if you are not a traitor), the Umno-controlled Malay daily said that Tong has not answered the media directly over allegations made in several anonymous blogs recently, despite the businessman having issued press statements denying he was shorting the ringgit."He has so far only made statements alleging that the mastermind behind the allegations against him in the blogs is youthful businessman Low Taek Jho, also known as Jho Low," Utusan wrote in its weekend edition Mingguan Malaysia."There really is no better way except for Tong to make a statement, so that he is really seen as clean and not hiding behind the social media screen," the paper concluded.However, the Malay daily conceded that the allegations against the executive chairman of The Edge Media Group were all speculation.The paper noted Tong's acumen in the stockbroking and financial world and attributed the businessman's success to his in-depth knowledge of these sectors.It also noted that Tong had been founder of the Phileo Allied Bank and was connected to Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim when the latter was still in the Cabinet.It noted that Tong had also been involved in property development through Sunrise Bhd, before it was sold to UEM Land in 2010 to become UEM Sunrise.Utusan described Tong as a "media mogul" now, because of the various publications he owned under The Edge Media Group, and also mentioned his June 2014 takeover of The Malaysian Insider, which the Malay daily described as a portal that "sparks controversy".Utusan said that Tong was now believed to be under Bank Negara's watch over the allegations of shorting the ringgit, and also noted that he had been accused in the anonymous blogs of using his media publications to influence public sentiment against the Malaysian economy.Tong has so far issued press statements to deny that he was involved in currency manipulation and economic sabotage, and to deny that he was using the media outlets under his control to drive down the ringgit and put Malaysia in a bad light.He has also identified a blogger known as "ahrily90" as the one behind several anonymous blogs which have attacked him, as well as former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and banker Datuk Seri Nazir Razak.It is believed that these attacks were related to criticisms levelled at 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).Dr Mahathir and Nazir have criticised the dealings and debts of the government-backed strategic development fund, while publications under The Edge have reported problems at the fund.Tong has also served a letter of demand to Low, whom he believes is behind the allegations against him and The Edge Media Group, after it was established that other blogs linked to "ahrily90" published complimentary pieces on Low.Recently, Dr Mahathir backed Tong's claim that he was being targeted because of critical reporting on 1MDB, while Nazir has announced his intention to sue the blogger "ahrily90" once he identifies the person. – February 8, 2015.
ไม่มีความคิดเห็น:
แสดงความคิดเห็น