BANGKOK - The Malaysian authorities yesterday prevented a member of the ruling party from travelling to New York where he had planned to urge US law enforcement officials to investigate a sovereign wealth fund headed by Malaysia’s prime minister.
The party member, Datuk Khairuddin Abu Hassan, was arrested hours after his planned departure yesterday. He was charged with trying to overthrow the government, his lawyer said.
The arrest comes amid a crackdown against those investigating Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak over deposits in 2013 of nearly US$700 million (RM2.9 billion) into his personal bank accounts. In July, a Malaysian news outlet that had been investigating the activities of the sovereign wealth fund had its publishing license suspended; the deputy prime minister and attorney general were removed from their posts in July; and in August the offices of the country’s anti-corruption office were raided.
Khairuddin, a relatively junior member of Najib’s party who turned against the prime minister late last year, has traveled to financial capitals in Europe and Asia in an effort to spur investigations into the prime minister’s dealings.
He said in an interview this month that he had planned to submit documents to US law enforcement officials alleging money laundering.
“I strongly believe that the US authorities have all the records on money movements,” Khairuddin said.
He declined to be more specific.
Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan (right) is seen with his lawyer, Matthias Chang
Khairuddin was due to meet agents of the FBI on Monday, his lawyer, Matthias Chang, said in a phone interview yesterday.
Chang said the appointment was made with assistance from the US Embassy in Malaysia.
The Malaysian immigration authorities told Khairuddin that he had been blocked from leaving the country on orders from Police Headquarters, Chang said.
“This was a blatant abuse of power to prevent this report from being filed in the United States,” he said.
Khairuddin was being held last night at a police station; a bail hearing is set for today, Chang said.
“It is so ridiculous to say that our action would undermine democracy,” Chang said.
Najib has been accused of involvement in the murder of Mongolian model Altantuya Shaariibuu in a bid to cover up alleged corruption in the Malaysian government's purchase of 2 French Scorpene submarines. The Malaysian PM has denied any wrongdoing.
The sovereign wealth fund under investigation, 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB, had difficulty making debt payments earlier this year and critics say it has lost hundreds of millions of dollars. The prime minister is chairman of the fund.
The government has denied reports that the US$700 million transferred to Najib in 2013 came from entities linked to the fund. The government says the money was a donation, but it has not specified from whom the money was sent or why it was sent to the prime minister. ― The New York Times
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