Zaid goes Down Under for 'one last RM2.6b contribution to opposition'

Zaid Ibrahim has disclosed that he was in Sydney last week to instruct Levitt Robinson Solicitors to explore the possibility of suing ANZ Bank in Australia to recover the RM2.6 billion.

The former law minister insisted that the sum was stolen from 1MDB, despite Malaysian authorities claiming otherwise.

In a blog posting today, Zaid said ANZ was managing AmBank at the material time, and is still a shareholder of AmBank in Malaysia.

“I believe ANZ was responsible, either directly or indirectly, for the laundering of money that belongs to the people of this country.

“This is my last bit of contribution before May 9, 2018,” he added in reference to next month's general election, in which the RM2.6 billion issue and 1MDB scandal top the opposition's campaign fodder list.

Noting that he still had to overcome the locus standi hurdle in Australia, Zaid, however, believes the country's laws are wider in scope and courts have allowed those with special interests to litigate.

“Australian courts will not tolerate illegality of any shape or form by its corporations, even if the deed was carried out outside of Australia. This puts me in good stead,” he added.

Zaid expressed hope that Stewart Levitt would take up his case and act on behalf of Malaysians who have been deprived of the benefits that 1MDB would have brought them if it had been managed properly.

“I want the case to be placed before the Australian court with the commitment that, should any funds be awarded by way of damages from ANZ Bank, the court will supervise its use wholly and exclusively for the benefit of Malaysia's poor.

“This includes providing better education, more scholarships and better social services, the very ones 1MDB was meant to finance.

“We can only do so much, but going out in full force to vote on May 9 is most important of them all,” he added.

The former Umno lawmaker also claimed that he had done all that he could for the opposition in the last nine years.

“I write on many important issues, I joined opposition parties, I gave speeches, and even sponsored many opposition events with whatever little money I have.

“I have been charged for some offences, and I have exhausted all avenues in the Malaysian courts to get the attorney-general to act against the culprits... (involved in) 1MDB,” he added.

Zaid said he also attempted to get AmBank to disclose the statement of accounts where the money from 1MDB was remitted to so that it could be established if it went to caretaker prime minister Najib Abdul Razak's account or if the sum came from a Saudi royalty.

“But they all said that I had no locus standi as I was not a shareholder or a director of 1MDB,” he added.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain and blamed such allegations on those conspiring to topple him from power.

He also described the RM2.6 billion in his account as a donation from a Saudi royalty, which was confirmed by attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, who cleared Najib of any wrongdoing.

1MDB has also maintained that its funds were not stolen and claimed to be the victim of a concerted politically-motivated attack. -Mkini