(Sept 10): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) will take action against The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) if the daily's report that a US$1.4 billion (RM6.02 billion) payment from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was missing is proven false, said Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak.

"We will scrutinise this matter if the published information is untrue," said the communication and multimedia minister.

"Of course we will take necessary action," he told reporters today.

Salleh said action should also be taken against those behind leaked information, after 1MDB raised concerns that the report was based on leaked transcripts during hearings by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

"Of course I will order MCMC to investigate and take necessary action," he added, describing the report as ill-intended and unfair.

Yesterday, WSJ reported that UAE-based International Petroleum Investment Co (IPIC) had alleged that a US$1.4 billion payment from 1MDB was missing.

Salleh said Putrajaya must also investigate PAC members if they are found to have leaked the information.

"We also need to investigate where the information come from

"If it is from PAC, of course we need to investigate who among them (PAC members) leaked the information," he said.

1MDB yesterday called the WSJ report biased, sensationalist and lacking proof.

The troubled company said the paper had possibly breached Malaysian laws by referring to "transcript of the proceedings", which, it said, could only be presented at PAC's hearings on 1MDB. – The Malaysian Insider