A group of Umno-linked activists today urged ex-New Straits Times group editor-in-chief Kalimullah Hassan to answer serious allegations made against him over ‘coercion' in obtaining a RM900 million government contract.

NONE Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) president Azwanddin Hamzah said, "As a prominent personality Kalimullah ( right ) must answer these allegations."

He said the contract, worth almost RM1 billion contract, was for IT consultancy for the Inland Revenue Board.

"If it the allegations are true, he must answer for them and action must be taken against him," added Azwanddin, an ex-PKR member who had followed former PKR stalwart Ezam Mohd Noor when he rejoined Umno.

"If those accusations are false, then he must take action against those who have accused him."

He added that JMM has "conducted an investigation into the allegations and as far as we are concerned, the evidence against him is quite strong".

NONE JMM has given one week for Kalimullah to answer these allegations. Failing which, they shall lodge a police report against Kalimullah.

Azwanddin ( left ) also said that they have noticed a disturbing pattern of attacks against the prime minister, Islam and the Malays by the articles and coverage of what he termed "blogs": Raja Petra Kamaruddin-linked Malaysia Today and news portal Malaysian Insider .

According to him, "We have been looking into this and have found evidence of a concerted attack being mounted by these ‘blogs'."

"Most recently, is an article in Malaysian Insider which insults the royals," he said, without specifying the article in question.

"We take these attacks seriously as they involve national security and unity," he added.

'Kalimullah behind attacks'

Azwanddin, who was speaking at a press conference in Bukit Antarabangsa, also claimed to have evidence linking Kalimullah to news portal Malaysian Insider .

He said that "Kalimullah is the hidden hand behind the news portal's attack on (premier) Najib (Abdul Razak), Islam and the Malays".

"The funding for Malaysian Insider actually comes from (Kalimullah-linked) Regalia Solutions," alleged Azwanddin.

However, Kalimulah has earlier in January denied any links to Malaysian Insider .

NONE Azwanddin also said that JMM has tried to contact Kalimullah directly via mail over the allegations to no avail. 

Kalimullah, a business tycoon, was appointed NST group editor-in-chief in 2003 by then prime minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. 

He stepped down from the post in 2006 but remained as NST deputy chairperson until 2008.

A controversial figure, Kalimullah is seen to be closely linked to Abdullah's son Kamaluddin and son-in-law Khairy Jamaluddin , who is now Umno Youth chief.