Apandi’s decision won’t stop tongues wagging

MACC's investigation papers should be made public so the people can judge.

COMMENT

Prime Minister Najib Razak is probably the happiest man in the country, now that Attorney-General Apandi Ali has vindicated him on the two cases that bugged him for the better part of a year.

Apandi told a press conference on Tuesday that he had ordered cases against the Prime Minister closed after thoroughly studying MACC investigation papers on deposits to his personal bank accounts from the Saudi royal family and SRC International Sdn Bhd.

Malaysians also heard a new twist to the saga during the press conference – that Najib returned RM2.03 billion of unused funds to the Saudi benefactor.

To Najib and his supporters, Apandi’s announcement amounts to a closure worthy of a celebration, but to others, it raises even more questions.

For example, who in his right mind would donate such a huge amount – RM2.08 billion, according to the AG – to another person in today’s world, where there is no free lunch?

Also puzzling is why the return of such a large chunk of the donation was never mentioned until Tuesday.

And let’s not forget the AG’s efficiency in wrapping up the issue, just days after the MACC had passed back papers he had returned to the investigators for “clarification,” although he was recently quoted as saying that he needed more time to study “files as tall as” himself.

None of it matters any more. Looks like Malaysians are going to have to take Apandi’s explanation at face value.

However, one can’t help wondering whether the MACC agrees with Apandi. The only way to settle this is to make MACC’s investigation papers public and let the people be the judge. Taxpayers have the right to know whether the anti-graft body had really absolved the premier of any offence.

Apandi’s announcement has already got tongues wagging in the social media and you can expect the police and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission to step in soon to warn of action against critics.

It is easy to stifle questions and dissent but you can bet that Apandi’s announcement will not stop the rakyat from wondering about the “real story” behind the hefty sums channelled into the premier’s personal accounts.