Putrajaya should not block access to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) as Malaysia is not a communist country, said Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman Said.

"We are (a) democratic (country). We are not a communist country that bans others from criticising our leader," she said when met at the Parliament building today.

Azalina noted that all the ministers get criticised in the social media and Instagram.

She was asked whether the government would ban the US-based financial daily, which quoted sources in revealing the RM2.6 billion deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's private accounts.

WSJ had reported startling allegations regarding Najib's multi-million ringgit spending on luxury goods.

It also reported that CIMB chairperson Nazir Abdul Razak had confirmed receiving nearly US$7 million from his brother, Najib.

Nazir confirmed to WSJ that he did receive the sum allegedly in his private account, which he said was later disbursed by bank staff to ruling-party politicians according to the instructions of party leaders.

When asked to comment on these reports involving Najib, Azalina, who was a practising lawyer, said any person implicated should be presumed innocent until proven otherwise.

"This is democracy, but I uphold (the principle) that a man is innocent until proven guilty," she said.

Editor's note : Later in a statement, Azalina denied saying that WSJ shouldn't be blocked.