There is great rumbling in the deep bowels of UMNO and Malay society that things are not right with Malaysia, especially with regard to the great shame that the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal has brought to Malaysia by giving the nation a virtual instant epithet of a global kleptocracy.
These rumblings first surfaced publicly early this month after the seizure of 1MDB mastermind Jho Low’s billion-ringgit luxury superyacht Equanimity by the Indonesian authorities and FBI in Bali at the end last month.
Former International Trade and Industry Minister Tan Sri Rafidah Aziz broke the ice when publicly lamented in her FaceBook about the Malaysian government becoming the modern-day Malaysian “Emperor with New Clothes”, asking why the Malaysian authorities had not been able to find 1MDB mastermind Jho Low’s billion-ringgit luxury superyacht when she herself could spot it while on a diving trip in Thailand.
This was followed by the tweet of the former Information Minister, Tan Sri Rais Yatim asking why the Minister for Communications and Multimedia, Datuk Seri Salleh Said Keruak was so hasty in defending Jho Low instead of defending justice with regard to the seizure of the luxury superyacht Equanimity.
UMNO Veterans Club secretary Mustaha Yaakub joined in the public rumbling, declaring that the supporters of Jho Low as those who betrayed the country and UMNO, as Jho Low was responsible for the 1MDB scandal and that action should be taken against him.
The public rumbling and cries from the heart from the deep bowels of UMNO and Malay society elicited not sympathy and concern from those in power in UMNO and Barisan Nasional, but led to a spate of savage and malicious attacks (reminiscent of the recent attacks on Malaysian tycoon Robert Kuok) by UMNO/BN propagandists and quinoa cybetroopers.
But this has not cowed either Rais or Rafidah who stuck to their guns in their criticism of UMNO Ministers and leaders for becoming apologists and defenders of 1MDB scandal and the 1MDB mastermind Jho Low.
In his latest interview with Malaysiakini, Rais reminded his critics that he has a doctorate in law and as such had valid personal concerns over the apparent disregard for principles of law on issues related to Jho Low and 1MDB.
He said:
“When I see that no investigations have been carried out against him, (I question) why not? We have an international network.
“At the very least we can announce an investigation. Successful or not, that it is up to the system. But no file has been opened but yet we can say ‘there is no link’ (between Jho Low and 1MDB).
“This (refusal to investigate) raises questions within myself, a person who is quite familiar with the administration of the law.”
Rais pointed out that an ordinary person if cited by certain parties over any case or mentioned in a police report would have been swiftly investigated.
“But this one (Jho Low) they (the authorities) did not want to (investigate). So there is a conflict with Article 8 of the Federal Constitution whereby everyone is equal under the law.
“That does not apply here. And that was my query,” he said in pointing out how multiple foreign jurisdictions were currently probing the 1MDB scandal.
Alluding to various foreign media reports on the 1MDB scandal, Rais further said it would be impossible for him to remain silent on the matter.
“We (critics from within Umno) must find a way to correct the situation.
“We are not claiming that the Equanimity belongs to Jho Low. We just want to know, please investigate, where did this yacht come from? Why was it such a big issue (overseas)?” he said.
“Malaysia’s reputation is being soiled. That (to restore it) was my intention,” he stressed.
But Rafidah must take the cake for being most forthright and outspoken in her latest FaceBook posting.
She cautioned Malaysians not to vote for corrupt politicians, as that would be tantamount to an endorsement of their wrongdoings.
She warned Malaysians would be “accomplices” to acts of corruption and treachery if they wilfully voted for corrupt politicians.
I call on the Prime Minster and UMNO President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak and the UMNO/BN leadership to heed the cries from the heart of UMNO veterans like Rais Yatim and Rafidah.
(Media Statement in Parliament on Tuesday 20th March 2018)