UPDATE2 KUALA LUMPUR - Former prime minister Mahathir Mohamad, even at 90, has not lost his touch. In a masterstroke, the former Umno president shocked Prime Minister Najib Razak and his supporters by agreeing to attend a 'Nothing 2 Hide' no-holds-barred tell-all forum on the controversial 1MDB sovereign fund.
This has prompted Inspector General of Police Khalid Bakar to order the high-profile forum cancelled on security grounds. The 'tell-all' was scheduled to be held at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC).
"In the interest of public safety and national harmony, the police orders the dialogue at PWTC this morning to be cancelled," said the IGP on Twitter.
Khalid's Twitter post appeared at 8.55am, about five minutes before the forum was scheduled to begin.
Mahathir, known for his punctuality, had already arrived while Najib is still nowhere in sight.
According to Malaysiakini, about 1,500 people have already taken their seats.
Dialog 1MDB bersama NGO2. Demi ketenteraman awam dan keharmonian masy, @PDRMsia mengarahkan Dialog diatas, di PWTC, Kl pagi ini dibatalkan.
VIPs present include Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan, former Terengganu menteri besar Ahmad Said and Kelantan Football Association Chairperson Annuar Musa.
Also seen outside the hall was former Umno Batu Kawan division deputy chief Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, who had lodged a report with the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission against 1MDB.
Mahathir had arrived at about 8.50am. He was greeted by a host of supporters and members of Perkasa and was taken to the VIP holding room.
The event was organised by SukaGuam, whose chairman Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat was to moderate the forum.
Despite its 'nothing to hide' billing, the event is not opened to the media. The press have to leave the hall after the opening ceremony.
Too much dirt to hide
Najib had a day ago reiterated his innocence in the RM42 billion 1MDB debacle, where some RM28 billion of public money has purportedly gone missing under Najib's charge.
Mahathir has called for Najib's resignation after his failure to come clean on the issue and was expected to lead the charge at this morning's forum, where Najib could have expected to be publicly humiliated and hung out to dry should he fail to come up with the answers that are now sought not only by Mahathir but the rest of the nation.
"Even at the coffee-shops, the people talk about 1MDB and the perception that Najib is lying is very strong and real. His absence this morning will be a major public setback for him and confirms what everyone is privately thinking - he is guilty whether of CBT or just negligent - he is guilty," Tian Chua, the Opposition MP for Batu, told Malaysia Chronicle.
"Frankly, even if he appeared, it would not help much. His political era is over and he must admit it and not cling on and damage the economy further."
Joke's on Najib & Rosmah: Sweet dream turns into nightmare
Ironically, Najib had a day ago received staunch support from Sarawak Chief Minister Sdenan Satem, the hand-picked successor to reviled former leader Taib Mahmud.
Buoyed by Adenan's flowery praises, Najib had declared he and wife Rosmah Mansor could 'sleep soundly' .
"Just now, Sarawak Chief Minister (Adenan Satem) said to me, 'You are not alone,' and I responded with, 'I'm glad that I'm not alone'.
"Tonight, my wife and I can sleep soundly. We will sleep on the same pillow, have the same dream. We feel relieved, for it is clear that Sarawak BN so sincerely supports me. I can read the people's hearts," Najib is quoted as saying by Bernama.
Najib also took a swipe at Mahathir, who was PM for 22 years, and indirectly hinted that he and Rosmah only wanted another 5 years in power.
"He (Adenan) had asked for only one term (after the coming state election), five more years of administration, not 22 years," Najib said.
Najib has to go whether he likes it or not
But behind the bluster, support for Najib - even in Umno - is fluid and can evaporate. Many believe he cannot survive the 1MDB debacle but are willing to bide their time.
"Why rush to show hand. It's like a cat playing with a mouse. Give him enough string and he will hang himself - no need to worry," an Umno watcher told Malaysia Chronicle.
Be that as it may, the road ahead for Malaysia remains rocky. That the country's economy is in trouble cannot be hidden despite the rosy data and proclamations from the authorities.
Property prices are set to plunge sharply after a monster building binge, while Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni has warned on TV the ringgit could plunge to 1998 levels if 1MDB debt is not settled.
The ringgit has in recent days hit the 3.70 level against the US dollar and during the 1998 Asian Financial Crisis, had fallen to the 4.70 level.
- Malaysia Chronicle
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