Khazanah files police report over information leakage concerning MAB

Khazanah Nasional Bhd has filed a police report following a leak of the entire board papers on Malaysia Airlines Bhd (MAB).

The leaked information purportedly included a proposed merger between the low-cost airline AirAsia Group Bhd and MAB.

Quoting sources, The Edge reported that this was "not a normal leak" as it appeared the entire set of confidential board papers was given to a news portal which published them in a series of articles this week.

"Khazanah worries that such a blatant leak of board papers containing detailed and confidential information will make it tough for it to undertake future deals with third parties. The integrity of its processes is at stake on the matter," reported The Edge.

It added that the police report was lodged yesterday. Khazanah, when contacted, declined to comment on the matter. 

Meanwhile, the business news portal Focus Malaysia has defended its move to report the matter.

In a statement, Its editor-in-chief P Gunasegaram said that Malaysians, who are the ultimate shareholders of MAB, have a right to know what is happening to the airline.

"The fact is there is too little information in the public domain about what is happening at MAB. Our judgement is that this is a matter of national and public interest and the public has a right to know what is the extent of the problem at MAB and what are the measures being considered to save the airline.

"We wrote the stories simply because they were of great public interest and importance," Gunasegaram said, adding the documents concerned are not in his possession.

He, however, stated that Focus Malaysia has yet to be accused of false reporting.

He also said that they only sighted relevant documents but do not have them in their possession.