The allegation by Gerakan’s Datuk Liang Teck Meng that WikiLeaks released banking information of Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is false.
The WikiLeaks group confirmed that it previously released particulars related to some local personalities, but insisted that none was linked to the PKR president-elect.
“Claims spread in Malaysia that @WikiLeaks published @anwaribrahim’s bank account details are false. Liang Tech (sic) Meng is pushing a fabrication.
“WikiLeaks has published significant information about Malaysian politicians but not Mr Ibrahim’s bank accounts,” said WikiLeaks in a tweet last night.
On Wednesday, The Coverage website reported Liang’s claims that Anwar allegedly had millions stashed in a list of foreign bank accounts, including in the US, Singapore, China and Israel, and that the information was supposedly exposed by WikiLeaks.
The Coverage article had no indications as to when the claim was made.
Malaysiakini reported that when contacted, Liang confirmed that his remarks were not new and The Coverage had based its article on his reported statement from inside the Dewan Rakyat in 2013.
“Overtaken by events. Please check all verbatim in Parliament in 2013,” the former Simpang Renggam MP told Malaysiakini.
“I am happy to see WikiLeaks clarifying.
“Right is right, wrong is wrong. That is my principle,” said Liang who, however, questioned the reason for WikiLeaks to respond to his claims only after nearly five years.
Liang added it was also possible that certain quarters had once again played up the allegations against Anwar as one of seven candidates in the ongoing Port Dickson by-election.
The Malay Mail yesterday reported PKR communications director Fahmi Fadzil as saying the claim is “old and baseless news”.
He warned that the party will take action against those who continue to spread unverified information in attempts to discredit Anwar, who is contesting the Port Dickson by-election on October 13.
Gerakan had been part of the Barisan Nasional that was defeated in the general election but left the coalition to be independent after it was completely wiped out in the poll.
Prior to that, Liang had been one of the only two federal lawmakers belonging to the party.
Related report: Oct 3, Fahmi Fadzil Denies Anwar Has Billions Stashed Offshore