(July 3): The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) will investigate the Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) report that investigators have traced nearly US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) credited into the personal bank accounts of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, the business daily said in its latest report on the issue.

Just hours after its expose earlier today, the WSJ received a reply from the MACC, saying that it will look into the matter.

Rohaizad Yaakob, a spokesman for MACC, was quoted as saying: "We will look into the matter. If there's any corruption at all, we will investigate."

Responding to the WSJ report, the Prime Minister's Office said the WSJ report was the work of "certain individuals" to undermine confidence in the economy, tarnish the government and remove a democratically elected prime minister.

The Prime Minister's Office said in a statement that local media should not accept such documents as genuine unless verified by appropriate authorities after the Malaysian online media quoted the WSJ expose and that by whistle-blower site Sarawak Report.

Meanwhile, opposition leaders today called for the prime minister to answer the allegations.

DAP secretary general and Penang chief minister Lim Guan Eng said that Najib should resign if he fails to explain claims in WSJ that billions of ringgit were channelled to his personal bank accounts.

“Najib should file a suit in the US against the publication to clear his name if necessary. But first, he must explain. Failing which, he has to resign.

“This is an allegation of unprecedented scope and shocking in scale... before this, there has never been such allegations against a prime minister," DAP secretary general and Penang chief minister Lim said.

PAS deputy president Datuk Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man said that denial and statements from the police, Najib, or even 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) could no longer arrest the negative perception of Najib's image.

"The banks named in this declaration should bear witness to the declared accounts so that it appears credible," Tuan Ibrahim said.

"Such a move will be much more effective to deal with the accusations made this time around."

Umno ministers have rallied behind Najib after the WSJ expose.

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan, in a series of tweets via his Twitter handle @mpkotabelud, slammed WSJ, saying he was shocked over the allegations which had only used an "unnamed investigator" as a source of information.

"I am shocked by WSJ's wanton allegation. If they were dead serious about the authenticity, the reports should have named the sources," he tweeted.

Domestic Trade, Cooperation and Consumerism Minister Datuk Seri Hasan Malek today advised the people not to easily trust the unverified report (WSJ) when asked to comment on the issue.

Claiming that the report is unverified, Hasan refused to comment, saying all questions must be referred to the Finance Ministry instead.

"We must not trust something that is not verified. It's not healthy. If not verified there's no need for me to give a comment. For a comment you need to ask the Finance Ministry," he said at a press conference in Putrajaya.

1MDB is currently the subject of inquiries by a number of authorities, including the auditor-general, Bank Negara, police and the bipartisan Public Accounts Committee.

Najib, who is also finance minister and chairs 1MDB's advisory board, has come under severe criticism in recent months over a number of issues, including that of 1MDB which has amassed RM42 billion in debts after just six years of it being set up.

Yesterday, the prime minister admitted that he was depressed by the rumours linking him to 1MDB's controversial land deal with Tabung Haji, saying a responsible government would not use public funds to bail out a state-owned company. – The Malaysian Insider