PKR has demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak as to why his administration had engaged the services a pro-Zionist consultant to spruce up Malaysia's image internationally.

Party secretary-general Saifuddin Nasution said instead of working with recently axed Guardian US columnist Joshua Trevino, the government should have “long ago denounced him”.

This is because Trevino, who was a consultant for FBC Media, is a “prominent pro-Zionist operative”, Saifuddin said in a statement today.

pm open house 190812 najib The government had paid FBC Media 19.6 million euros (RM84 million) for a three-year contract from 2007 to “improve Malaysia’s profile internationally”.

“It is therefore strange that the government would hire this consultant but at the same time try to accuse (PKR supremo) Anwar Ibrahim of being a 'pro-Israeli politician',” Saifuddin said.

Trevino caused a stir in 2011 when he posted on Twitter that most Americans, including himself, would be “cool” if Israeli forces shot Americans on board an aid flotilla heading towards Occupied Gaza.

‘Speak up, Najib’

Saifuddin said the PM should speak up if he believes that FBC Media and Trevino have been “wrongly demonised”, as this affected the government's standing.

NONE “The rakyat have the right to know why its government works with a firm and its consultants who have been pilloried universally by the international media,” Saifuddin ( left ) said.

UK public broadcaster BBC had previously issued a public apology for unknowingly broadcasting FBC-produced documentaries on Malaysia, paid for by the Malaysian government.

International news network CNBC took a FBC-produced programme ‘World Business’ off the air following concerns that the UK firm was producing lobbying reports for the Malaysian government.

‘World Business’ was hosted by FBC president John Defterios from 2000 to 2007. He moved to CNN in March 2011.

CNN has stood by Defterios, who interviewed Najib in July 2011, arguing that the presenter had resigned from FBC Media at the time.