Shahbudin: Why is Najib still silent?

Blogger questions action against critics, not against 1MDB wrongdoers

KUALA LUMPUR: Popular Umno blogger Shahbudin Husin has questioned government action against critics of 1Malaysia Development Bhd rather than against those responsible for wrongdoing by 1MDB, which is the government’s investment arm.

Shahbudin, a political analyst, asked whether another statement would be needed by the Rulers’ Conference, making a reference to the pre-council statement from Istana Negara on Tuesday in which the government was urged to speedily complete investigations into 1MDB and bring to book those culpable.

In his latest blog article today, Shahbudin question whether the government “actually accepted the recommendations made by the Conference of Rulers” and pointed out that the authorities were “still detaining someone under Sosma (anti-terrorist law) just because he was vocal on 1MDB”.

Former Umno politician Khairuddin Abu Hassan and his lawyer Matthias Chang have been arrested after lodging reports overseas about 1MDB.

He questioned the arrests and said the government should have focused on the investigation on 1MDB to show that they were obeying the Rulers.

Ousted deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin in a statement on Wednesday had said he was relieved by the statement. He said he was glad that the responsibility have finally been placed on Prime Minister Najib Razak’s shoulder.

However, Shahbudin said that Najib continued to remain silent on the issue, “thus posed more questions on his attitude towards the Malay Rulers’ statement”.

“Do the Rulers have to speak up again after this?” Shahbudin said.