‘Day of Judgment’ awaits those responsible for Bandar Malaysia sale

A political analyst notes that the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry had to fall back on religion to express its objections and reservations on Bandar Malaysia sale.

KUALA LUMPUR: The question that arises, in the wake of a statement by the Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) on 1MDB, is whether anyone really cares about the “Day of Judgment” as mentioned in religion. “Do those responsible really think about the trust they hold towards the people and the nation?” asked a political analyst in his latest blog posting. “Or have they already repented and asked for forgiveness in front of the Kaabah while carrying out the umrah (minor haj)?”

Shahbudin Husin, the analyst, thinks that it’s not surprising that MCCI Chief Syed Ali Alattas warned about the “Day of Judgment” in reminding those responsible for selling 1MDB assets and lands to foreigners that they will not “escape”. “This is the final responsibility that they will not escape, according to Syed Ali.”

“Obviously, Syed Ali was aware that many people were unhappy that 1MDB sold the major chunk of the 500 acre Bandar Malaysia in Sungai Besar in Kuala Lumpur, the former RMAF Base, to a Consortium created by a state-owned firm in China in partnership with a local company.”

Syed Ali knows that the objections to the sale, added the analyst, were not having any effect on those responsible at 1MDB and in the government. “The MCCI’s reminder was in fact directed at Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and all members of the Cabinet and the top Umno leadership.”

“It’s true that none of them reacted to the public objections against 1MDB’s sale of Bandar Malaysia.”

The analyst thinks that the MCCI wants the public to know it wasn’t happy either with the Bandar Malaysia sale, has taken due note of public objections, shared in the sentiments and wanted to keep a distance from 1MDB on the sale, even if it meant resorting to the use of and/or falling back on religion. “The chamber obviously thinks that the reference to the ‘Day of Judgment’ was appropriate under the circumstances.”

The chamber, noted the analyst, even dredged up a speech by the late 2nd Prime Minister Abdul Razak — Najib’s father — who also likewise referred to the “Day of Judgment” at the launch of the Urban Development Authority (UDA), tasked with ensuring a role and stake for Malays in urban development. “Syed Ali said it was up to those responsible for unhappiness on the Bandar Malaysia sale to think about what the ‘Day of Judgment’ means.”

It’s interesting, said Shahbudin, that Syed Ali should hasten to assure that the chamber was not involved in the Bandar Malaysia sale and that it was all the work of the “big guys” . “The chamber and he only wanted to remind those responsible on their trust in administering the nation.”

“The chamber does not have any power or role in Bandar Malaysia.”

All the power lies with the “big people”, Shahbudin quotes Syed Ali as saying. “He said the ‘big people’ have the power to sell — Bandar Malaysia — and so they sold.”

But there’s a caveat here, according to Syed Ali said the analyst, and that’s the “Day of Judgment”.