Cash is king even for British politicians

YOURSAY | ‘As the Brits would say, ‘You scratch my back, I scratch yours.’’

British politicians on the spot for attending Najib event

Rojak: No one should be too surprised by politicians in Britain, or anywhere else, for turning a blind eye to overseas corruption when there is money to be made at home, but at least there is a reasonably free press there pointing out the hollowness of their anti-corruption speeches.

What I find interesting is how smoothly PM Najib Razak shifts from calling orang puteh “colonial” when he was being investigated by people like Clare Rewcastle Brown, to lovingly engaging with them when it is about doing business.

The Mask: I have always felt a special attachment to anything British, especially its football teams. Wherever they play, I would be rooting for them.

However, after the comments by these two leaders - UK minister in the Foreign Office Hugo Swire and House of Lords member and former British trade envoy Jonathan Marland - where they are prepared to sleep with the devil because of money, I have lost my taste for anything British.

I do not ask you to judge, but at least have certain reservations, especially after several countries are investigating possible criminality connected with the 1MDB.

Anonymous 122461436161429: I wonder how the British public feel about their leaders feting and entertaining alleged corrupt politicians and leaders.

Is that all right, you stiff upper-lipped fellows? And I wonder how the British feel when corrupt leaders from around the world buy up their prime property in central London?

Clever Voter: Indeed, Britain has been one of the favourite recipients of ill-gotten wealth. There is no hypocrisy.

The leaders, whether Conservative or Labour, have always put their commercial and national interests first. That's why they should be held responsible for today's global problems.

Of course, to many of us London is always a favourite place to visit, study and work, and to many to launder their wealth.

Jaycee: It is people like Swire that allows corrupt leaders to continue to be corrupt.

If he has bothered to read the latest developments of 1MDB where Singapore and Swiss banks are punishing the perpetrators in the 1MDB fiasco, Swire will distant himself from Najib.

To plead ignorance in this case goes to show that he condones corruption. Shame on him.

Anonymous #13291217: Cash is king, even in England where there is a Queen.

Legit: Utter shame on the British government and its Queen. You fellas came, conquered and plundered the countries in this and other regions.

Now you cosy up to the dictators, the corrupt and murderous leaders from these very third world countries all because of money. You do not care what the citizens of these countries think of their wicked leaders and how they treat their citizens.

All you care about is money pouring into your country.

AJ: How come the British, the protector of the Commonwealth and its people, do business with alleged crooks without even batting an eyelid, going on as if its business as usual.

Why are they calling it an 'internal' affair when so many countries are investigating the 1MDB scandal except Malaysia?

Is this their way of dealing with cross-border corruption?

Benghazi: In the final analysis, it is national commercial interest that is the top consideration of British politicians.

It is a farce to host an anti-corruption conference the day before and then allow an allegedly corrupt foreign leader to open an investment conference the following day.

And we thought the British are no-nonsense people.

Anon1: The Brits will say, "You scratch my back, I scratch yours", which has the same meaning as how the pirates say, "You help me, I help you".

WSJ: Investigators now looking at Riza’s £23 million London house

Cogito Ergo Sum: If the connection between Red Granite and the fraudulent Aabar BVI is proven, then it's game over for Putrajaya.

It will be very hard to explain that the transaction was fraudulent when the beneficiaries are related to 1MDB's adviser and the finance minister.

If things had gone right, we would never have known of this larceny that is of a such grand scale. Even Al Capone would be envious.

Jaycee: Hopefully something good will come out of this investigation. Malaysians have resigned to the fact nothing can be done to bring the perpetrators to justice and that we have to continue to live in a corrupt regime.

Please help us get justice. The foreign press is our only hope.

RM2.6 Billion Turkey Haram: Riza must be a super businessman, capable of earning so much that he could buy properties which many wealthy could only dream of.After retiring as a junior bank officer, he accumulated wealth faster than Midas could turn anything into gold with his touch.

Najib must have imparted his expertise of how to make tons of money in the shortest time to him. -Mkini