Three days before his 2018 Budget speech, the Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak suddenly issued a 81-paragraph blog on “My Economic Vision for Malaysia” which is remarkable for its attempt for the first time to white-wash the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal by explaining away the colossal theft and misappropriation of tens of billions of ringgit of public funds as a mere 1MDB “share of problems” which “we long ago revamped the management to correct the mistakes and bring it back to financial health”.

This is not a worthy or acceptable response to the international strictures that Malaysia has become a “global kleptocracy” as a result of the 1MDB scandal, which is the core of the kleptocratic litigation instituted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) to forfeit US$1.7 billion 1MDB-linked assets in the United States, United Kingdom and Switzerland, and which are now suspended pending criminal investigations by the United States authorities, as well as for the various financial and criminal actions and investigations by over half a dozen countries, including Singapore, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Abu Dhabi, the United Kingdom and Australia in connection with the 1MDB scandal.

Lest it be forgotten, the Malay Rulers’ on October 6, 2015 issued a rare joint statement and called on the Government to complete the investigation related to 1MDB as soon as possible and take “the appropriate stern action” against all found to be implicated.

The Malay Rulers stressed that all concerned should extend “real and sincere” co-operation so that the 1MDB investigation achieves its objectives.

They said: “The findings of the investigation must be reported comprehensively and in a transparent manner so that the people will be convinced of the sincerity of the Government which shall not at all conceal facts and the truth.”

Issued by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, the Malay Rulers said they were worried that if the issue was not wisely handled and was allowed to drag on, it could jeopardise the country’s economy and the livelihood of the people.

He said: “Hence, the Malay Rulers remind all leaders to always adhere to the Rukun Negara principles of upholding the Constitution and the Rule of Law. To ensure that the Government enjoys the people’s trust, that leaders are respected, that political stability is guaranteed and that the economy continues to grow, all leaders must constantly ensure that justice is meted out equitably and transparently based on the law.”

The advice of the Malay Rulers on the 1MDB scandal had been completely disregarded and their concern ignored for the past two years.

I call on Najib to start his belated defence of international multi-billion dollar 1MDB scandal which transformed Malaysia overnight into a global kleptocracy in his 2018 Budget speech tomorrow, so that the 2018 Budget debate can be turned into a full parliamentary debate on the 1MDB scandal and Malaysia becoming a global kleptocracy.

(Speech at the DAP “Love Malaysia, Save Malaysia, Change Malaysia” dinner at Zong Hua Banquet Hall, Cheng, Malacca on Thursday, 26th October 2017 at 9 pm)