Najib denies any knowledge of alleged letter to CIA

KUALA LUMPUR: While denying having any knowledge over a letter sent by the intelligence unit to the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) prior to the general election, Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak said it was not the government's policy then to make public letters of such nature.
The former premier described the letter, which was supposedly written on behalf of the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation (MEIO), as a government secret not meant for public eyes.
"The letter was penned by our intelligence unit, and it is not our policy to reveal such letters as it is government secret.
"If we had revealed the letter, that would just mean there is nothing that we can consider as secret in this country," he told reporters when met at the Parliament lobby, here, today.
Najib was responding to questions by the media on claims by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng if more such letters were sent to other countries ahead of the elections.
The letter, which was sent just days before the May 9 polling day, had sought the United States' support for Najib's administration even if his Barisan Nasional coalition had won the election by a marginal seat.
Asked if he had any knowledge on the letter, Najib said: "No, it was not directed at me. It was written by the agency. Whether or not they wrote the letter you have to ask them."
Najib said the letter was sent via inter-agency and not a diplomatic move, adding that it would not have affected the election results as it was done so close to the polls.
When pressed further for comment, Najib said: "The policy should not be to comment on leakages like this, because it brings a very bad precedence."
The letter had among other things, appealed for US to support Najib's administration, saying any indication that the US government would continue to support Najib and his administration would strengthen stability and enhance the existing cordial relationship between the two nations.