Media Statement by Tong Kooi Ong                                                
2 February 2015

The log of the mobile chat is fake

Yesterday, 1 February 2015, the blog, malaysianexpose.wordpress.com posted yet more lies and fabrications against me.

This is the same blog that had on 28 January 2015 accused me of shorting the Ringgit to break Bank Negara Malaysia and crash the Ringgit.

This time, it 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 a negative light for my personal benefit.

I have already vehemently and absolutely denied that I have ever shorted the Ringgit (my Press Statement of 1 February 2015). I do not think it is even possible. I have also never shorted equities. How can I possibly gain by painting Malaysia in a negative light?

News media communicates with society by presenting facts, analysis and commentaries on important matters happening around them. Sometimes, they are positive and critical, and other times, they are not.  We believe readers want all the facts and views, and they are smart and savvy enough to make up their own mind using the information given to them. We doubt that they can be manipulated.

Over the past 20 years, The Edge has contributed positively to the country by promoting social and economic inclusion. It has the highest level of editorial credibility and it is successful because of this.  Our views and reporting are done in the open. We do not hide behind blogs who do not reveal themselves.

As for the fake phone chat log, I invite the relevant authorities to investigate. I suspect such records can be obtained from the telecommunication company for verification. It is also clear that the last 2 digits of the phone number are missing from the screen grab posted. Why blank it out if it is genuine? 

Finally, anyone who knows me will confirm that many of the words used, such as “Friendlies” and “Jugular” are not part of my vocabulary.

The person behind all these baseless attacks is clearly acting out of desperation.

After attacking Tun Mahathir in his other blogs (politikukus.wordpress.com and kronismemahathir.wordpress.com), he now fabricates a story that Tun Mahathir could be manipulated by me.  Tun Mahathir deserves a lot more credit and respect than that.

Calling Tun Mahathir senile and listing 10 reasons why Tun Mahathir should be jailed (kronismemahathir.wordpress.com, 1 October 2014 and 25 August 2014) is disrespectful and vicious.   It shows how fearful this person, and whoever that is behind him, is of the criticisms and issues our former PM has raised in recent times, and the reporting of The Edge Media Group.

Thank you.

TONG KOOI ONG