Daim: Malaysians are angry over Putrajaya's settlement deal with Riza

Malaysians are angry and demand to know why Putrajaya agreed on the settlement deal with Riza Aziz, according to former government adviser Daim Zainuddin (above).

“The rakyat want to know why, when you steal Milo (the chocolate drink), you go to jail, but when you steal billions of ringgit, you walk away smiling?

“The rakyat think it is a really good deal for him (Riza). He does not have to spend any time behind bars and he is allowed to keep more than RM500 million in stolen money,” Daim was quoted as saying in an interview with The Malaysian Insight.

The government appeared to have received a lopsided deal in Riza’s verdict, Daim is reported as saying.

“Of course, people are angry. He did not offer any additional repayment – all those properties had already been seized and would have been returned to Malaysia anyway.

“Furthermore, the sum they are bandying about is what those properties are valued at.

“It does not mean that that is the amount they will be auctioned off. People would like to know why he is not in jail and why he is allowed to keep more than half of the money he is accused of stealing,” the former finance minister added.

Riza (above), the stepson of former prime minister Najib Razak, was charged with five counts of money-laundering totalling US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) between April 2011 and November 2012.

On May 14, Riza was granted a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA) over five money laundering charges, subject to him fulfilling the terms of an agreement with the prosecution to return to the government millions of ringgit.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) later said the government is expected to recover overseas assets estimated at US$107.3 million as part of the deal.

Meanwhile, Daim said the East Coast Railway Line (ECRL) should be prioritised over the RM110 billion Kuala Lumpur-Singapore high-speed rail (HSR) project.

According to him, the loan repayment for the ECRL project would only begin once the railway line begins to operate in 2027.

The project is ready to go and the local contractors and businesses will get the job.

He pointed out the HSR project would allow Singapore too much of a say in the Malaysian portion of the alignment.

“If we go ahead with the HSR project later and in accordance with its original conditions, I fear Malaysia will be giving up her sovereignty to Singapore,” he said.

“Many are not aware that under the original agreement, Singapore would have equal say over the use of the rail line within Malaysian borders.

“For instance, if Malaysia wants to link the HSR line with the ECRL, Singapore can object and they will, because they know that such a linkage will affect their port industry,” Daim said.

Daim entrusted to review ECRL project

Daim was entrusted to review the mega-project approved during the BN era and he was in charge of renegotiating with China to get a better deal for Malaysia on the ECRL project.

"It not only saved the country billions of ringgit but is also better and safer for the country in the long run. Issues like palm oil purchases, investment, joint operations and maintenance, increased local component and other corridor investments were all fringe benefits," he said.

Unlike the Kuala Lumpur-Singapore HSR project, Daim said, the ECRL is ready to go and its construction will spur commerce and industry along its alignment.

“The financing terms and long repayment period make the ECRL a prime example of how to utilise cheap foreign financing to aid in the country’s economic recovery.

“This should be treated as a priority project because we still have to pay interest on the amount drawn down by the BN government earlier.

“Whether you continue or you dither, the interest has still to be paid. So, we might as well start on the project as any delay will add further to the costs.

Daim also slammed the Perikatan Nasional government for not doing enough in the past three months after the political coup.

“During this calamity, the present government cannot be functioning in its normal run-of-the-mill manner,” Daim said in a recent interview.

‘The current health and economic crisis require the government to do far more under normal circumstances.

“The government cannot remain sclerotic. It had to hit the ground running soon after taking over. Now, they need to formulate crisis management plans for the economic, social, rural and communication sectors during and post-Covid-19.

“But so far, the government has done little, apart from almost exclusively consolidating its political hold via handouts of positions.

“At the same time, people feel that the old styles of the government using agencies to stop the people from expressing their views and curtailing their freedom of expression are back.”

“People read these appointments as a means to win support and, therefore, conclude that (Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin) is not sure of his own support to begin with,” Daim said.

“He allowed people to interpret that he did not have the support and needed to resort to rewarding them. The recent audio of him trying to entice Umno MPs with GLC chairmanships also did not do him any favour.

“To a very large extent, and to their credit, Pakatan Harapan removed many politicians from various entities and managed to put capable professionals at GLCs. No listed entities had politicians as chairmen or CEOs.

“For politicians offered the posts, they must ask themselves whether or not they are capable of performing and whether this offer is morally correct. Where is your conscience?

“This false sense of entitlement – believing that one deserves the position simply because one is a politician – must not be tolerated by any political party.

“The rakyat has every right to be upset. You have to put the most qualified people in the right positions, more so, when the company you are heading is entrusted in handling the rakyat’s money.

“Abusing that trust is the greatest sin and those who speak in the name of religion should advise their colleagues accordingly,” Daim said. - Mkini