COMMENT | Fibs, tales and creative thinking in 1MDB scandal

COMMENT | There were times when no one could say a thing about Najib Abdul Razak on matters related to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) - he did no wrong. After all, the spin that was being presented was that a generous Arab prince donated RM2.6 billion to him to enable his party to stay in power.

Orders were given out to the media by his henchmen on the fourth floor - nothing on 1MDB except if they are favourable to the then prime minister.

Phrases like “I did not lie on the RM2.6 billion”; “It was a donation from a Saudi prince”; “I returned the money to the donor”; “I am not a thief, robber, nor crook”; and other wafflings that would now appear to make even the most honest cop blush.

Most editors obeyed the diktat to the letter except for one or two who quit in disgust over having to publish statements which bordered on absurdity. Most complied, however ridiculous they can appear to be to appease the...