The setting up of an integrity unit in all government-linked companies and ministry-owned business entities to curb graft announced by the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak at the 13th Invest Malaysia Kuala Lumpur conference yesterday will only end up as meaningless “PR” exercises unless the Prime Minister and the entire Cabinet have the political will to be examples of zero tolerance of corruption.
This political will to ensure “zero tolerance for corruption” should start from the very top from the Prime Minister downwards, and should begin with comprehensive investigations and satisfactory accounting of the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal, which had transformed Malaysia overnight into a global kleptocracy. Let a Royal Commission of Inquiry into the 1MDB scandal be established.
The Prime Minister should know better than anyone that Malaysian leaders have lost the moral high ground, whether at home or in the international arena, to talk about ethics, morality, integrity and good governance so long as Malaysia is tarred and tainted with the odious appellation of a global kleptocracy and the Malaysian government is unable to do anything to clear or cleanse Malaysia of such infamy and ignominy. The demoralizing and debilitating effect of having lost the moral high ground is even evident in Parliament, during the exchanges in the Dewan Rakyat on Monday over the parliamentary scandal where questions by over 30 MPs on the 1MDB scandal were rejected by the Speaker, as Barisan Nasional Ministers and MPs were unable to hold their heads high when I asked them what they are doing to clear or cleanse Malaysia of such an odious appellation a global kleptocracy, which means that they are Ministers and MPs from a kleptocratic government of 4Ps – Pencuri, Perompak, Penyamun dan Penyangak
It must be regarded as a great shame to be regarded as the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, MPs, Attorney-General, judges and high officers of a Malaysian kleptocracy and Malaysian citizens, regardless of race, religion or region are entitled to know why the Prime Minister and his administration is not doing anything, or is unable to do anything, to clear or cleanse of Malaysia of such an odious appellation?
What is the use of talking about integrity units in GLCs and government businesses, when the elephant in the room is Malaysia being regarded worldwide as a global kleptocracy?
What is even more shocking is that the 1MDB scandal is virtually a banned and prohibited subject in Parliament, with questions on 1MDB scandal by over 30 MPs rejected by the Speaker on the most indefensible and ridiculous grounds.
Parliament should be the first arena for Malaysia to clear or cleanse Malaysia of the infamy or ignominy of a global kleptocracy, but when the 1MDB scandal is virtually banned or prohibited in parliamentary proceedings, we are in fact denying the country an opportunity to clear or cleanse Malaysia of the infamy and ignominy of a global kleptocracy.
In his keynote address to some 2,000 international and local investors at the 13th Invest Malaysia yesterday, Najib claimed that the government had acknowledged there were lapses in 1MDB’s governance, and he had personally given instructions for a rationalisation of the company’s operations.
This is one example why Najib has zero credibility. The 1MDB scandal is not just about “lapses in 1MDB governance” but a monstrous kleptocratic crime on an international level, which made Malaysia into a global kleptocracy overnight.
For a start, Najib should come to Parliament to give a full accounting for the 1MDB scandal and explain how his government proposes to clear or cleanse Malaysia of the infamy and ignominy of a global kleptocracy.
All the Pakatan Harapan MPs will fully co-operate and support the government campaign, whether in Malaysia or internationally, to clear or cleanse Malaysia of the infamy and ignominy of a global kleptocracy.
For a start, there must be a full and no-holds-barred parliamentary debate on the 1MDB scandal.
With the latest international developments of the 1MDB scandal in the past 18 months, especially the three series of kleptocratic suits by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to confiscate US$1.7 billion of 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland misappropriated from 1MDB funds money-laundered through American banks, the Attorney-General, Tan Sri Mohamad Apandi Ali, must explain how he could justify his announcement in January 2016 that there were no criminal offences or corruption involved in the 1MDB scandal, and in particular that the RM2.6 billion transferred into Najib’s personal bank accounts was a gift from the royal family in Saudi Arabia, when the money trail of this amount was clearly revealed to be otherwise in the US DOJ legal suits!
Who was Apandi’s right-hand man in the AG’s Chambers when he made such a shocking announcement in a media conference in January 2016? None other than the present Chief Commissioner of Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Datuk Dzulkifli Ahmad, before his appointment as MACC head. A statement from Dzulkifli on what the MACC had done on the 1MBD scandal which has made Malaysia into a global kleptocracy would also be in order.
Former Prime Minister, Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad had accused Apandi Ali of being a liar for withholding the 1MDB report prepared by his predecessor, the sacked A-G, Abdul Gani Patail.
Dr Mahathir said Apandi still held the post because he was protected by Prime Minister Najib Razak, and vice-versa.
Mahathir said he would not have challenged Apandi to swear on the Quran if he did not know the content of the reports.
Mahathir said: “We know, and God knows more. If he (Apandi) is brave, then swear on the Quran.”
Najib and Apandi cannot keep their silence or all the talk about integrity units for GLCs and government business in his 13th Malaysia Invest keynote address are just utter bunkum.
[Media Conference Statement in Parliament on Wednesday, 26th July 2017]