KUALA LUMPUR – Asia Times has defended the accuracy of its report based on an interview with Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan, insisting that the Umno deputy president expressed the view that Datuk Seri Najib Razak should be in prison over his role in the 1MDB scandal.
Its journalist Nick Kochan released audio files of the interview, after Mohamad, popularly known as Tok Mat, disputed the accuracy of the report.
“The audio that is in circulation is authentic and it was made with Tok Mat’s complete awareness. I would not normally release such an audio, but Tok Mat has sought to dispute the accuracy of the article.
“Readers can listen to the audio and judge for themselves,” he said in a statement today.
Kochan added that Mohamad had, in the interview, said Najib should have stepped aside in 2018 to assist his party during the general election held in May that year.
Mohamad was reported to have stated that Najib needs to serve time in jail before getting a pardon and that he should not be accorded special treatment should he be convicted.
Mohamad also said that Najib, who was prime minister from 2009 to 2018, deserved to be judged fairly.
“I gave Tok Mat a platform, and he was clear in his message about his concerns with respect to the behaviour of the former prime minister,” said Kochan.
The article, titled “Umno’s No 2 thinks Najib should go to jail”, was co-written by Kochan and Nile Bowie.
Earlier today, in a brief explanation to The Vibes, Mohamad denied outright asserting that Najib should be put in jail.
He clarified that Najib, like any other Malaysian, is accorded rights to be judged fairly within the justice system and must go through the process to prove his innocence.
“That is inaccurate. What I said was that Najib must get a fair trial.
“If he is found guilty, then he is guilty, but he must be judged fairly,” he said.
Mohamad also said he was merely explaining the pardon process in general rather than outrightly stating that Najib should be incarcerated.
“I was merely explaining the pardon process, which usually happens after a conviction,” he said. – The Vibes, July 5, 2022
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