The current UMNO secretary-general Datuk Seri Annuar Musa should explain why he has not apologised for UMNO’s complicity in the monstrous global 1MDB scandal before 2014 although he has admitted to it?
Annuar made this admission when he claimed that UMNO’s current frozen accounts had nothing to do with 1MDB as the funds from the former UYMNO President, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, were “used up by 2014″.
Is Annuar’s admission of UMNO complicity in the 1MDB scandal an official admission?
Has Annuar received the consent of the UMNO President, Datuk Seri Zahid Hamidi, the UMNO Deputy President, Datuk Seri Mohamad Hassan and the UMNO Supreme Council to make this admission of UMNO’s complicity in the monstrous global 1MDB scandal?
I had only asked four days ago when all the former Ministers, MPs and BN leaders of the former Najib government would apologise to the nation for pretending that there was no 1MDB scandal – when the whole world regarded Malaysia under Najib was a global kleptocracy because of 1MDB scandal?
This was after Hong Kong became the latest country to take action against former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner because of the 1MDB scandal, with its Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) banning Tim Leissner from re-entering the industry for life for his crimes linked to the 1MDB scandal.
Leissner had in August 2018 pleaded guilty to criminal charges brought by the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) against him for conspiring to commit money laundering and violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Leissner admitted, among others, that between 2009 and 2014, he conspired with others to obtain and retain business from 1MDB for Goldman Sachs, through the promise and payment of bribes and kickbacks to government officials in Malaysia and Abu Dhabi, embezzled funds from 1MDB for himself and others, and laundered the bribes and kickbacks, as well as other embezzled funds from 1MDB; and knowingly and wilfully circumvented the controls of Goldman Sachs.
The court in the US adjudicated Leissner as guilty of both offences, and ordered him to forfeit US$43.7 million (about RM181 million) as a result of his crimes.
Back home in Malaysia, all Malaysians are waiting for all the former Ministers, MPs and BN leaders of Najib’s administration to apologise to the nation for pretending that there was no 1MDB scandal – when the whole world knew and regarded Malaysia under Najib was a global kleptocracy because of 1MDB scandal?
Although Annuar swore that “not a single sen of the money that has been frozen in Umno’s accounts has anything to do with 1MDB”, PPBM Supreme Council member Tariq Ismail has exposed Annuar’s “flawed logic”, asking:
“So, if Umno received funds in 2011, 2012 and 2013 from 1MDB and used it all in 2014, it means they are not guilty?
“Going by that logic, if a thief steals money and uses it, he is innocent?”
Tariq asked Annuar to do some soul searching as “he is part of the gravy train of Umno leaders” that were only too happy to receive the 1MDB money.
Stating that Annuar was in denial in believing that Umno was really innocent, Tariq said that under money laundering laws, it does not matter whether the money has been spent or not when the account is frozen.
“As long as an account is suspected of receiving illegal money, that account is liable to be frozen, regardless of whether that illegal money has been spent or otherwise at the time the account is frozen.”
Let Malaysians hear from Annuar: Is UMNO guilty or innocent of 1MDB scandal?
(Media Statement by DAP MP for Iskandar Puteri Lim Kit Siang in Kuala Lumpur on Monday, 8th July 2019)
