Edge owner denies new allegations of directing negative media coverage of Malaysia
(The Malaysian Insider) – A mobile chat log purportedly showing The Edge Media Group owner Datuk Tong Kooi Ong directing media coverage to drive down the ringgit is fake, the businessman said today in another statement denying allegations that he was betting against the Malaysian currency to make it crash for personal profit.
Tong said one of the blogs that had first made the allegation of currency manipulation against him had now posted a fake mobile chat showing him giving instructions for media coverage on former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad so as to devalue the ringgit.
Dr Mahathir has recently been critical of the current administration under Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
“[The blog] faked a phone chat log and used it to accuse me of manipulating former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to drive down the ringgit. The blog also accused me of using The Edge Media Group to irresponsibly paint Malaysia in negative light for my personal benefit.
“I invite the relevant authorities to investigate,” Tong, who is the group’s executive chairman, said in a statement today.
The alleged chat log carried on www.malaysianexpose.wordpress.com shows a phone number supposedly belonging to Tong in a chat with another person, with the media owner saying “go for the jugular” in giving news coverage to Dr Mahathir through The Edge Media Group’s different platforms.
“Continue with economic downfall of Malaysia themes,” Tong is alleged to have said in the chat.
