LIM: GERAKAN CHIEF’S CALL ILLOGICAL
1MDB funds did not enter PH leaders’ personal account, says finance minister
THE call for the recovery of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds from Pakatan Harapan leaders who were formerly part of the Umno leadership is illogical as the funds did not enter their personal accounts, said Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Lim said the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission’s (MACC) efforts to recover the money did not involve the personal accounts of the leaders.
He was responding to reports that Gerakan president Datuk Dr
Dominic Lau Hoe Chai had called for Lim to recover 1MDB funds by starting with Home Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, Kedah Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir and Sabah Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal.
“I don’t know why funds have to be recovered from Mukhriz and Muhyiddin. Did they receive the money? Did the funds enter their personal accounts?
“It is not that I don’t want to answer, but this (call) is not logical at all as the funds did not enter their accounts. So why direct this to them?”
Speaking after the 2020 Budget Consultation meeting here yesterday, Lim asked why Lau had not called for the return of funds that had entered the account of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
He said the 41 individuals and entities named in MACC’s civil forfeiture suit for the recovery of 1MDB funds were on an initial list, with more names to be announced, adding that just because other names had not been included in the first list, did not mean that they would escape.
On criticism about a Chinese calligraphy print on the wall in his office, Lim said such faultfinding constituted racial games that were the work of irresponsible parties.
Lim said the calligraphy had been on display in conjunction with the Chinese New Year celebration in February.