Making Allegation Without Evidence Will Only Tarnish DoJ's Credibility – Minister Hishammuddin

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysian Defence Minister Hishammuddin Hussein on Sunday urged United States’ Department of Justice (DoJ) to provide evidence to support their latest allegation relating to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). He said without solid evidence, any statement or allegation against certain individuals made by the DoJ would only tarnish its own reputation and credibility. “Do not issue statement after statement without taking any follow-up actions. After making an allegation, the DoJ must also take follow-up action so that those who were being accused will get the opportunity to answer and clean their names. “If no actions were taken, the DoJ’s credibility can be questioned by the public,” he told reporters here, Sunday. Hishammuddin, who is also the minister with special functions at the Prime Minister’s Department, said if the act of making an allegation without evidence persists to occur, certain quarters would try to take advantage of the situation and use DoJ’s statements to achieve their own political agenda. Hishammuddin said this in response to the latest DoJ’s lawsuit to recover assets allegedly embezzled from 1MDB. When asked whether the DoJ’s allegation would bring about the negative impact on UMNO (United Malays National Organisation is Malaysia's largest political party) in the next general election, Hishammuddin, who is also UMNO vice-president, said that would be decided by the people. Despite the many issues at the national level, the people at the grass root would still want their wellbeing to be well taken care of. “The voters want their wellbeing to be well taken care of and for them, local issues are more important. I’m confident that with the right approach, we can prove DoJ’s allegation wrong,” he added. -- BERNAMA