ANWAR: AUSTRALIA COMPLICIT IN PREVIOUS GOVT’S ALLEGED GRAFT

Canberra complicit in alleged graft by Najib’s govt, claims Anwar

PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim yesterday claimed that Australia is complicit in alleged corruption by the former government as he called on Canberra to send home a policeman implicated in a murder scandal.

The former opposition leader slammed Canberra’s “tainted” policy towards former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s administration, which was defeated in last month’s election.

Anwar, 70, who was jailed by Najib in 2015 and released after the election, said Australia had made “extremely supportive” statements about Najib’s administration.

He cited the high-profile case of a policeman, now in Australian custody, who fled Malaysia after being sentenced to hang for the killing of a Mongolian model linked to a Najib government bribery scandal.

“It is time Australia accepts the fact that some of their foreign policies have been tainted and perceived by many Malaysians as complicit, or tolerant, of the crimes of corruption and criminal actions,” he told ABC radio yesterday.

“Australian authorities need to do their utmost to make sure that this is corrected and that means (former police officer Sirul Azhar Umar) should be allowed to come back. (He should) be given security protection and a new trial that is transparent and just.”

Sirul claimed that he was ordered by “important people” in 2006 to murder model Altantuya Shaariibuu — the mistress of Najib’s associate accused of arranging kickbacks for the purchase of French submarines.

Anwar, the presumptive successor to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, said he was willing to move on as relations with Australia need to be “extremely cordial”.

Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop defended Canberra’s previous relationship with Najib and said she was “looking forward to a close and productive relationship” with the new government.

“Our positive and broad-based ties with the previous administration enabled us to collaborate on matters that were in Australia and Malaysia’s national interests.

“We do not seek to impinge on the sovereignty of other countries, just as we expect other countries not to interfere in our political affairs.”

Australia’s Home Affairs Department, which manages the detention centre where Sirul is being held, said it would not comment on individual cases.

Australian authorities need to do their utmost to make sure that this is corrected... DATUK SERI ANWAR IBRAHIM

PKR de facto leader