Rafizi denies knowing Lester Melanyi

PKR vice president, Rafizi Ramli dismissed claims made by Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communications director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan that he had instructed Sarawak Report to defame Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak about 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

According to Rafizi, the expose made by Rahman about a police report linking him, Petaling Jaya Utara MP, Tony Pua, Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How, Kuching MP Chong Chieng Hen and Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim were false.

"I have never known Lester Melanyi nor have I been in contact with him. The first time I knew about his existence was when Rahman revealed the contents of the police report.

"I have never given instructions to Sarawak Report or gave materials to be published by the portal.

"No contacts were made with Sarawak Report or talked to their editor Clare Rewscastle-Brown about 1MDB. Throughout my career, I have only worked together with the portal on the timber scandal in Sabah," said Rafizi in a statement.

On Wednesday, Abdul Rahman revealed the involvement of several opposition lawmakers in a video by an individual who claimed to be directly involved in falsifying facts in Sarawak Report articles.

Meanwhile, Rafizi, all things brought up about 1MDB were based on news reports from both in and outside the country as well as questions raised in Parliament.

"The police report made by Ramesh Rao Krishnan Naidu is a conspiracy to cover the 1MDB issue by giving it an image that it was conceived by the opposition.

"I am confident that this conspiracy would not work as the 1MDB issue is too big," added him.