International communications consultancy APCO Worldwide today reiterated that it neither worked with the Israeli government nor helped to create the '1Malaysia' concept, as claimed by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim.

"The allegations repeated against APCO Worldwide this morning in the Malaysian Parliament are false. APCO Worldwide is not working for the government of Israel. We did not devise the 1Malaysia concept," it said in a statement issued to Bernama in Kuala Lumpur.

NONEAPCO Worldwide had also refuted on March 18 a similar allegation by Anwar.

Today, in the Dewan Rakyat, Anwar called on the government to withdraw its contract with APCO Worldwide and set up a royal commission to inquire into the firm, alleging that it posed a risk to national security.

Anwar had raised the issue of APCO Worldwide when providing an explanation in the Dewan Rakyat following a suggestion by Abdul Rahman Dahlan (BN-Kota Belud) for him to be referred to the Rights and Privileges Committee for having alleged that the 1Malaysia concept had been copied from the "One Israel" slogan that he linked to APCO Worldwide.

APCO Worldwide said: "In our work as communications consultants, we are not involved in policy formation but in the presentation of information thegovernment intends to share with the public.

"We work for governments that are prepared to take our counsel on transparency, democracy and the rule of law. We are honoured to continue our work with the government of Malaysia."

Meanwhile The Ministry of Information Communication and Culture is not using the services of Apco Worldwide, in promoting the 1Malaysia concept.

Its deputy minister, Datuk Joseph Salang said the firm was not involved at all in the ministry's affairs.

"As far as I know, my ministry is not using the services of the company. Apco is not involved in the affairs of the ministry," he said when winding up the debate on the Royal address pertaining to the ministry at the Dewan Rakyat, today.

He said this when responding to Datuk Mahfuz Omar (PAS-Pokok Sena) who interrupted his winding up and asked whether the ministry was using Apco's advisory service to promote 1Malaysia through the use of the new media.

Salang said the ministry, via the Information Department, had created its Facebook social website which now has more than 6,000 members and created its YouTube to upload videos and audios on the 1Malaysia concept. 

- Bernama