KIT SIANG CHALLENGES NAJIB TO DISPEL KLEPTOCRAT LABEL
Ex-PM must explain why he did not object to allegation, says Kit Siang
DAP adviser Lim Kit Siang has challenged Datuk Seri Najib Razak to use the Dewan Rakyat platform today to dispel the allegation that the past administration was a “global kleptocracy”.
The DAP supremo said the former prime minister must explain why the previous government did not take serious action to counter then United States Attorney-General Jeff Sessions’ condemnation of the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) corruption scandal as “kleptocracy at its worst”.
Lim said the matter became more pressing following the recent revelation that the Malaysian External Intelligence Organisation had allegedly sent a letter to the US seeking support in the run-up to the 14th General Election.
“It is imperative for Najib to take the floor in tomorrow’s (today’s) debate in Parliament on the royal address, and explain why his administration had never protested or sought to clear Malaysia’s epithet as a global kleptocracy, or whether my damning thoughts were right after all.
“Is this the reason why he has allowed other Umno leaders and operatives to give different and even conflicting versions about the infamous RM2.6 billion deposits in his personal bank accounts?” Lim asked in a media statement posted on his blog yesterday.
The Iskandar Puteri member of parliament pointed out that the various explanations given for the deposit appeared contradictory.
“These different and even conflicting versions were most ridiculous, as one needs only to point out that IS (Islamic State) only came into existence in mid2014, while the donations were deposited in March 2013!”
It was reported on Aug 11, 2015, that then tourism minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Abdul Aziz said the donation was from a “brotherly nation” that wanted to see certain parties win GE13.
Later, on Aug 15, 2015, the media reported then Kuantan Umno division chief Datuk Seri Wan Adnan Wan Mamat as saying that the RM2.6 billion was from Saudi Arabia as a form of appreciation to Malaysia “championing Islam” and combating IS.
In May 2016, then Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director Datuk Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi reportedly said the money was from the Saudi king to aid Malaysia’s fight against IS, among other reasons.
“It is time that Najib made a clean breast of his involvement in the 1MDB scandal in Parliament tomorrow (today).”
Lim, however, has not deliberated his next move in the event that Najib does not respond to his challenge for a tell-all on 1MDB.
Based on the order paper of proceedings in Dewan Rakyat today, members of parliament are expected to engage in a questionand-answer session, as well as a session to debate the motion of thanks to the royal address that would continue for the rest of the week.
The order paper stated that there is a no-confidence motion slated for today, which will be brought by Khoo Poay Tiong (DAP-Kota Melaka) against Election Commission deputy chairman Tan Sri Othman Mahmood and five other members of the commission, demanding their resignation.
If Najib takes up Lim’s challenge to talk about the 1MDB allegations in Parliament, the former could likely do so during the debate session.
When asked if he planned to table a motion in Parliament on 1MDB, in the event that Najib did not respond to his suggestion, Lim said: “Let’s leave it at that for now. Let him (Najib) speak first. Let’s not jump the gun. Let’s leave it at that.”
Attempts to get Najib for his comment, including through his aides, were unsuccessful.