The Edge Media Group has misled Malaysians into thinking it obtained information honorably about 1Malaysia Development Berhad from a reliable source, said Barisan Nasional strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan.

Given that the group owner, Tong Kooi Ong, admitted to misleading former PetroSaudi International executive Xavier Andre Justo about payments to secure evidence, "Malaysians cannot take what The Edge is saying at face value", he added.

"If The Edge can cheat a known sleek criminal like Justo, I won't be surprised if they could cheat ordinary Malaysians just as well.

"Yes, news organisations worth their salt wouldn't pay for information but they are also expected not to cheat to get the information. Otherwise, their reputation is also at stake when they cheat to steal stolen information," he said in his Facebook post today.

Abdul Rahman, who is Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister, said it was a shame that The Edge did not come clean from the beginning and tried "to cover up their act" after Justo revealed "shocking information" in an interview with Singapore's The Straits Times.

"The Edge said the stolen documents were not tampered at all but international computer forensic experts as well as Thai authorities say otherwise. They milked the story for a few months for political purposes while hoping no one would know who Justo was," he added.

Abdul Rahman said The Edge Financial Daily publisher had claimed that publishing stolen and suspect information was the most honourable thing to do.

"Don't try to wiggle your way out of this by claiming being honourable, Mr Ho (Kay Tat) and Mr Tong," he said.

Earlier today, Tong in a statement admitted to misleading Justo about paying him for 1MDB-related documents the Swiss stole from his former employer.

But Tong said this was the only way to get hold of the evidence to expose how a small group of Malaysians and foreigners cheated the people of Malaysia of US$1.83 billion (RM6.97 billion).