MALAYS will lose power if they choose leaders who steal money from the people, said Dr Mahathir Mohamad, in reference to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
Pakatan Harapan’s pick for prime Minister said if “Malay power” was used to borrow RM42 billion and then lose it, Malaysians deserve to change that power.
“But when we know that a person in power is misusing his power, then it is time to replace him. Power must be used in a good way. It must follow the law and proper procedures.
“If Malay power is to lose money, should we maintain that Malay power? We have a choice.
“Malay power will not be lost if we choose someone that has no history of stealing money,” Dr Mahathir said during a question-and-answer session in a PH policy talk streamed on Facebook today.
Prime Minister Najib Razak yesterday told investors that 1MDB’s failings were used as political ammunition against the government.
After admitting that 1MDB had problems, Najib said he had “ordered one of the most comprehensive and detailed investigations in Malaysia’s corporate history.”
Dr Mahathir said since the 1MDB scandal came to light, Malaysia is now known as a kleptocratic government worldwide because it is governed by “penyangak” (thugs).
“There wasn’t this kind of problem back then, accusing us of being ruled by ‘penyangak’. When we went overseas, they thought highly of Malaysia, to the point of being impressed with Malaysia’s development,” Dr Mahathir said.
He said the government now is riddled with problems, such as a lack of jobs, scholarships, and work licences.
“The government now is different from the previous government, it is the government now that can borrow billions in ringgit and lose that money.
“This is a reality, and cannot be hidden by (Attorney-General Mohamed) Apandi (Ali) or any party.”
Dr Mahathir said PH will focus on distributing the nation’s wealth fairly as the opposition has parties that will look into Malay needs.
“So, don’t think that now and the last time are the same, that the government now and back then is the same, so whomever that we choose is the same. We can boycott it,” Dr Mahathir said.
“So, think deeply if we want to fix the problems that we mentioned,” he said.
In 2016, the DoJ said about US$731 million found its way into the accounts of Malaysian Official No. 1 (MO1).
The DoJ did not name Najib but Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan later confirmed that MO1 was the prime minister.
The DoJ had also filed civil forfeiture suits over more than US$1 billion in real estate, movie rights and other assets.
It then launched a criminal investigation last year and sought to delay the civil suits.
The troubles surrounding 1MDB have been dubbed by the US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions as “kleptocracy at its worst” in a Global Forum on Asset Recovery.
– https://www.themalaysianinsight.com
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