Ariff Sabri denounces ‘despotic’ Najib and Husni

Raub MP also attacks 'apple polishing' Syed Ali Al-Habshee.

PETALING JAYA: Raub MP Ariff Sabri has accused both Finance Ministers – Najib Abdul Razak and Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah – of behaving like despots, citing their approval of a RM950 million “standby credit” for 1MDB in spite of a Cabinet decision against extending any more credit to the troubled government owned company.

Husni’s revelation proves that neither he nor Najib has integrity, Ariff says. “It also shows that Malaysian citizens will have to bear 1MDB’s burden,” he adds.

He says he learned from a reliable source that Husni is a “weak fellow” who would not make any decision without Najib’s clearance.

“He’s another Umno leader with no backbone,” Ariff declares in his latest blog posting.

He notes that Husni, in responding to a question from PKR’s Rafizi Ramli, told Parliament yesterday that the RM950 million set aside for 1MDB was “standby credit” and not a loan.

“Please tell me what’s the difference,” he asks. He points out that it will be a loan when 1MDB starts using the money and he refers to a statement by the 1MDB CEO that the money will be lent on commercial terms.

In an article that appears to be written in a fit of anger, Ariff aims much of his venom at Cheras Umno chief Syed Ali al-Habshee, who denounced Rafizi when he first exposed the attempt at an alleged bailout.

He says Syed Ali operates as apple polisher for Najib and his wife, Rosmah Mansor. “That’s his contribution in return for business deals and contracts from the government,” he says.

He notes that it was Syed Ali, together with Kelantan Umno’s Fatmi Salleh, who organised last Sunday’s “Red Shirt Solidarity” meeting, where Umno division chiefs pledged their loyalty to Najib and promised they would “swim or sink” with him. He said Syed Ali and Fatmi organised the event in order to maintain their relevance.

Ariff doubts that many in Umno would want to sink with Najib. “And when it comes to swimming, they’ll swim away to save their own skins.” He says it would be typical of “Umno people” to run away when tribulation comes.

He says even though many division heads were absent from Sunday’s meeting, they were there in spirit because they are “united by the enterprise of robbing the nation”. He says they would defend – “to the last drop of their blood” – their “right to run away with the people’s money.”

Now that Husni has confirmed what Rafizi asserted, “where will Syed Ali hide his face?” Ariff asks.

Whether it’s a ‘”standby credit” or a loan or whatever name Husni wants to give it, the Umno people will swallow his story.” But it is clear to the rest of the nation that 1MDB is in deep trouble, he says.