End 'denial syndrome' over 1MDB, PAS Ulama wing tells gov't

MUKTAMAR | The PAS Ulama (clerics) wing has urged Putrajaya to end its denial syndrome over the 1MDB scandal.

Its chief Mahfodz Mohamad also urged for investigations into the matter to continue.

"1MDB has become a danger to Malaysia. Investors have started losing trust in the transparency of the government in handling the 1MDB crisis.

"This is because it is having trouble paying off its debts, which are mired in 'riba' (interest) that is 'haram' (forbidden in Islam).

"The Ulama wing calls on the government not to be in denial syndrome," he said when officially opening the wing's muktamar or annual meet at Sekolah Rendah Darul Ulum, Kedah today.

Also present at the opening was PAS deputy spiritual leader Ahmad Yaakob.

Mahfodz said denial was futile as authorities abroad such as in Switzerland, Singapore and the US have already given signs there is wrongdoing related to 1MDB.

He added on the matter of riba, which goes against Islam, the government's burgeoning debt in piling up interest to be paid, is akin to "courting war with Allah".

"What is most worrying is the government in 2016 was forced to pay as much as RM27 billion on top of its debts, the bulk of which was in interest incurred," said Mahfodz.

"Clearly the Umno-BN government is deliberately courting war with Allah," he said.- Mkini