(July 9): The Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) today warned that it will come down hard on those found spreading false news on the ongoing investigations into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

In a Facebook posting today, MCMC said that it was an offence to share or spread news which contained false information about 1MDB under Section 211 or 233 of the Communication and Multimedia Act 1998.

"The public is advised to stop spreading modified pictures, unverified news or any speculation on the investigation into 1MDB through social media, including through the WhatsApp application," MCMC said on its Facebook page.

"If found guilty, the punishment is fine of not more than RM50,000 and/or jail of not more than a year. #1MDB #falsenews."

The warning comes following claims that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak allegedly had billions from companies linked to 1MDB channelled into his personal accounts.

The allegation is being investigated by a special task force made up of Attorney-General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) chairman Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed and Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) in a July 2 report said that US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB before ending up in the prime minister's personal accounts in five separate deposits.

Najib has denied taking funds for personal use but has not commented directly on the transfer of the money into his accounts. He has instead blamed former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for masterminding the latest allegations.

Despite Najib's denial, Malaysians are taking to social media to express their anger at the embattled prime minister.

Some have used the names of Hollywood blockbusters, altering them to create memes on Najib and 1MDB by superimposing his picture on movie posters.

Some examples are “Saving Private Funds”, “Lord of the Ringgit – Fellowship of 1MDB”, “Honey I Shrunk The Ringgit” and “Forty-two Billion Shades of Debt”.

Several blogs also linked the murder of Arab Malaysian Banking group founder Hussain Ahmad Najadi in 2013 to the 1MDB scandal, as Najib's accounts which had allegedly received the funds were at AmBank in Kuala Lumpur.

Police have refuted this link, with Khalid saying that the case had been closed and the killer arrested and sentenced to death.

The IGP added that police would also investigate those spreading "lies".

Tow truck driver Koong Swee Kwan was sentenced to death for Najadi's murder in September last year. He was also sentenced to 18 years in prison for the attempted murder of Najadi’s wife Cheong Mei Kuen. – The Malaysian Insider