Lim should not make assumptions on 1MDB, says Wee

PETALING JAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng should not make assumptions before the Malaysian Anti- Corruption Commission (MACC) completes its investigation on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), says Datuk Seri Dr Wee Ka Siong.

“Indeed, a Finance Minister has the duty to recover funds that have been legally proven to be government’s money.

“But it must be stressed that due process of the law must be observed.

“Lim should not make any assumptions before MACC wraps up its investigation,” the MCA president said in a Facebook posting on Thursday.

Dr Wee, who is also Ayer Hitam MP, said that since Lim acknowledged that the MACC was probing the 1MDB case, the government body should be allowed to complete its impartial investigation and present its findings.

“As it stands, Lim has no basis whatsoever and is speaking out based on hearsay and assumptions alone,” he said in a reaction to Lim’s comment that Dr Wee did not know the scope of a Finance Minister.

The two got into a war of words lately over whether MCA had received funds from 1MDB.

Lim has urged Dr Wee not to “run away” from his responsibility to return 1MDB funds allegedly received by his party.

In a previous statement, Dr Wee said he welcomed Lim to lodge a report with the police and the MACC if he had proof of MCA accepting money from 1MDB “beyond what MACC has collected during its eightmonth investigation”.

“I have promised that MCA will cooperate with the authorities, and I stand by my promise,” he said.

In the meantime, Dr Wee said Lim’s incessant attacks on MCA were viewed by many as an attempt to divert the nation’s attention from what he called the minister’s failure to improve the weakening economy, betrayal on the Unified Examination Certificate’s recognition and the removal of a RM30mil matching grant for Tunku Abdul Rahman University College.