‘Why is Anwar quiet on Dr M, Daim over forex losses?’

PETALING JAYA: Umno Youth is questioning why Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is keeping quiet on the roles of Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad and Tun Daim Zainuddin in the foreign exchange (forex) losses suffered by Bank Negara in the early 1990s.

In a statement yesterday, its vice-chief Khairul Azwan Harun said Anwar, who was former deputy prime minister and finance minister, had singled out then Bank Negara assistant governor Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop for not disclosing the amount of losses.

Khairul Azwan said Anwar, who is now PKR leader, had in the past blamed the forex scandal on former prime minister Dr Mahathir and former finance minister Daim.

“According to Anwar, Dr Mahathir and Daim were already speculating in forex trading even before he became finance minister.

“Umno Youth demands to know why Anwar has changed his mind.

“Why is he now silent on Tun Mahathir and Tun Daim?

“Is he of the opinion that Tan Sri Nor Mohamed had so much power to single-handedly oversee all the forex trading?” Khairul Azwan asked.

Anwar was summoned on April 20 by the special task force looking into the forex losses. The task force is probing the US$10bil (RM43.9bil) losses incurred by Bank Negara through forex dealings between 1991 and 1993.

The Cabinet appointed former chief secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Sidek Hassan to head the task force.

It is tasked with conducting preliminary investigations into the losses, which allegedly amounted to billions of ringgit.

It is also to investigate if there was any cover-up.