PKR is mounting pressure on Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's silence over an allegation that the government paid American writers to smear opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim.
This follows another similar write-up in the Asian edition of the influential Wall Street Journal (WSJ) today, repeating the charges that former US president George W Bush's former speechwriter Joshua Trevino (right) admitted to being paid US$389,724.70, between 2008 and 2011, as well as a free trip to Malaysia.
This follows another similar write-up in the Asian edition of the influential Wall Street Journal (WSJ) today, repeating the charges that former US president George W Bush's former speechwriter Joshua Trevino (right) admitted to being paid US$389,724.70, between 2008 and 2011, as well as a free trip to Malaysia.
The payment was to provide "public relations and media consultancy" services to the Malaysian government.
This follows Trevino's disclosure to the US Department of Justice that he was paid the amount by the Malaysian government, the ruling BN regime or closely-related interests.
WSJ in the article titled "Malaysia's US Propaganda" said the payment was used by Trevino to set up a website called "Malaysian matters" to attack Anwar, including his Sodomy II charge. The website is defunct now.
This follows Trevino's disclosure to the US Department of Justice that he was paid the amount by the Malaysian government, the ruling BN regime or closely-related interests.
WSJ in the article titled "Malaysia's US Propaganda" said the payment was used by Trevino to set up a website called "Malaysian matters" to attack Anwar, including his Sodomy II charge. The website is defunct now.
Other writers similarly tasked
It went on further to describe how the Malaysian scheme saw several other respected writers, such as Rachel Ehrenfeld, Claire Berlinski and Seth Mandel, tasked to write for other well-known publications such as National Review and the Washington Times.
WSJ went on to touch on Najib's falling popularity in Malaysia and suggested that his days as prime minister could be numbered, despite Najib being seen as more democratic compared with his predecessors.
"Even opposition figures have quietly admitted to us that he has steered Malaysia in the right direction. That should have been more than enough for a legitimate public relations operation to work with.
"Resorting to underhanded tactics to undermine the opposition has only backfired for Mr Najib, at home and abroad," the WSJ report states
PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (right) said while many people, locally and abroad, found this disclosure to be shocking, the Najib administration has refused to reply.
"Surely the prime minister is aware that the good name of Malaysia is being hurt by the administration's continued silence. I ask Najib to once again to explain his side of the story.
"We will persist on this matter until there is an adequate response," said Nik Nazmi, who is Seri Setia assemblyperson, in a statement.
Nik Nazmi had also raised the issue last Wednesday, when he said that the US consultants hired by Najib to attack Anwar were ardent supporters of the Israeli regime.
WSJ went on to touch on Najib's falling popularity in Malaysia and suggested that his days as prime minister could be numbered, despite Najib being seen as more democratic compared with his predecessors.
"Even opposition figures have quietly admitted to us that he has steered Malaysia in the right direction. That should have been more than enough for a legitimate public relations operation to work with.
"Resorting to underhanded tactics to undermine the opposition has only backfired for Mr Najib, at home and abroad," the WSJ report states
PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad (right) said while many people, locally and abroad, found this disclosure to be shocking, the Najib administration has refused to reply."Surely the prime minister is aware that the good name of Malaysia is being hurt by the administration's continued silence. I ask Najib to once again to explain his side of the story.
"We will persist on this matter until there is an adequate response," said Nik Nazmi, who is Seri Setia assemblyperson, in a statement.
Nik Nazmi had also raised the issue last Wednesday, when he said that the US consultants hired by Najib to attack Anwar were ardent supporters of the Israeli regime.
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