(July 10): Datuk Seri Najib Razak could easily “quash” The Wall Street Journal’s (WSJ) allegation by giving consent to the bank to disclose the details of his account, a Sarawak lawmaker said.

DAP's Padungan assemblyman Wong King Wei said it was the quickest way for the embattled prime minister to prove his innocence.

Wong said giving the consent to AmBank to make public details of his account was a better option than taking the business newspaper to court to seek legal redress.

He said by suing the WSJ to prove his innocence, Najib would not get to prove his innocence quickly.

Wong, a lawyer, said the prime minister would only get his legal redress at the end of what could be a lengthy case.

“Such ambivalent method would only bring negative effects on the nation's reputation and economy.”

Najib should publicly disclose his personal accounts to prove his innocence, and then sue the WSJ for damages on untruthful reporting, he said.

Wong said he believed Najib had an ulterior motive by going to court,

He said “the real reason” behind Najib's plan to sue the WSJ was to put in place a legal gag on the public and the media from talking about the alleged scandal when it was before the court.

"This is to (keep) the people (quiet), as any form of opinion could cause a contempt of court," he said, referring to the offence of sub judice, which lead to contempt of court proceedings, if cases before the court are commented on publicly. – The Malaysian Insider