STILL FORK-TONGUED AS BEFORE? NOW NAJIB SAYS EVERYONE MUST BE TREATED EQUAL BEFORE THE LAW, YET HIS LAWYERS STILL WANT MACC TO COME TO HIS HOUSE TO TAKE HIS STATEMENT

KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today that rule of law must be applied equally to everyone, including Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Speaking to Malay Mail at his home here, Najib said the prime minister must also subject himself to scrutiny.

“Whatever it is, it has to be fair. Rule of law has to be applied in a very fair way, and it must be seen to apply to everybody. Everybody must adhere to the rule of law.

“I mean, if you have accepted 30 horses from your friends, that must also be taken into account, because he has admitted openly. The horses were given by his friends.

“He has received gratification from his friends and has admitted it openly,” Najib said of Dr Mahathir.

In an interview on CNN Indonesia two years ago, Dr Mahathir revealed his love for horses, also telling the American broadcaster that he owned close to 40 of them. He also said some of the horses were given to him.

Dr Mahathir has consistently pointed out that investigations into the 1MDB scandal and Najib’s role in it must be subject to the rule of law and due process.

The PM has also said he was not seeking revenge against Najib, and would treat the latter fairly. But Dr Mahathir has also said that Najib would still have to face the consequences if found guilty of any criminal wrongdoing.

In today’s interview with Malay Mail, Najib also questioned the position of Lim Guan Eng as finance minister-designate, as the latter is still on trial for alleged corruption.

Najib accused Pakatan Harapan (PH) of “double standards” when evaluating the integrity of its own party members.

“This is contrary to what they have been saying. They practise double standards. When it comes to their own people, it is something else, when it comes to BN leaders, it’s something else.

“Well, the principle is the rule of law. He is not guilty until proven, so he’s not guilty because he’s been charged. Though he’s not guilty yet, but most people don’t think it is appropriate for a man who has been charged to be appointed as a minister of finance, until he clears his name.

“I’m not saying he’s guilty, but clear your name first,” Najib said.

No home interview for Najib, says MACC deputy chief

KUALA LUMPUR – The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) will record Datuk Seri Najib Razak at its headquarters in Putrajaya next Tuesday, its deputy chief of operations Datuk Seri Azam Baki said today.

Azam denied that the MACC would be interviewing the ex-prime minister at his private home in Taman Duta here, contrary to a statement just hours earlier by Najib’s lawyer.

“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has delivered a notice to former prime minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak to be present at the MACC headquarters on Tuesday (May 22, 2018).

“I reject the statement by Datuk Seri Najib’s lawyer, Datuk Harpal Singh Grewal that MACC officers will be present at his house to record his statement.

“In the notice that was delivered to Datuk Seri Najib yesterday, it was stated clearly that he has to be present at the MACC headquarters to have his statement recorded,” Azam said in a statement.

The senior MACC man said Najib is required to show up to assist in the MACC’s investigations on the case involving the SRC International.

SRC International is a company that was formerly a subsidiary of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), but it was later parked as a unit under the Finance Ministry.

Earlier today, Harpal said MACC investigators agreed to go to Najib’s house to record his statement, confirming that no investigator had taken his client’s statement yet and that Najib’s wife Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor was currently not under investigation.

A member of a panel that reviewed the MACC’s files on 1MDB said the commission had evidence that Najib received US$10.5 million (RM42.1 million) from SRC.

Najib has previously denied wrongdoing in matters involving 1MDB.

– Malay Mail