TUNKU AZIZ: LIM DEMEANING HIMSELF
‘He wanted a probe 26 years ago, but he’s now running down the task force’
DAP veteran leader Lim Kit Siang is demeaning himself by criticising the special task force set up to probe into Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) foreign exchange losses in the 1990s.
Former DAP vice-chairman Tunku Abdul Aziz Tunku Ibrahim said Lim had been vocal in the Dewan Rakyat 26 years ago when proposing that the losses be probed, including urging for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to be set up.
“He had shown great courage to stand by his position on the issue throughout the years.
“But in running down the special task force now, it has diminished his contribution in bringing the foreign exchange scandal to light,” said Tunku Aziz.
He said Lim should understand that the seven-member task force, led by former chief secretary to the government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan, was only doing its duty.
He said Lim should thank the task force as it had rendered an important public service.
Lim, who is also Gelang Patah member of parliament, had questioned the need for a task force, which he said was confined to investigate only the forex losses and not other issues, such as 1Malaysia Development Bhd.
Tunku Aziz called on the opposition to support the RCI, saying it concerned an important issue.
“We should all help facilitate the work of the RCI and bring the scandal to a proper closure.
“Hopefully, the opposition will look at the inquiry as one in public interest.”
The government last Wednesday announced that an RCI would be established to probe into BNM’s forex losses.
The decision was made after the task force concluded its investigations and presented its report and recommendations to the cabinet.
The task force found that the losses suffered by BNM were much more than what was reported to the cabinet and Parliament at the time, and that there were attempts to conceal facts on the losses.