DID NAJIB HAMMER IN HIS OWN 'SAFE PASSAGE' OR WAS THERE A DEAL? 'APANDI, MAN OF THE MILLENNIUM. HE WILL REMEMBERED FOR 1,000 YEARS'

KUALA LUMPUR - Former Umno law minister Zaid Ibrahim recoiled in shock at the dubious all-clear given by Attorney General Apandi Ali to Prime Minister Najib Razak, who was under investigation for gran corruption and abuse of power.

"If true MACC says no offence committed by Najib ; then MACC should just close shop #fb", Zaid said in a series of tweets.

"Najib with billions in his accounts committed no offence; I who merely asked him to step down, did. Law students must answer this #fb"

"Apandi Ali is the man of the millennium. He will be remembered for a thousand years #fb"

Apandi, whom Najib appointed last year to replace Gani Patail for allegedly planning to charge him for corruption linked to state investment fund 1MDB, had called an emergency press conference today.

"Based on facts and evidence, no criminal offences have been committed by the PM in relation to three investigation papers," Apandi told a packed emergency press conference held at his office on Tuesday.

“I hereby order the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) to close the investigation papers."

Muted response from Dr M camp: Has a quiet deal been struck?

The hastily-made and unscheduled announcement had sparked speculation of a desperate bid by Najib and his supporters to foil an uprising by powerful critics in his Umno party, who have been trying to oust and arrest him for alleged grand-scale kleptocracy and abuse of power.

Many political watchers are linking what they call today's 'massive corruption cover-up' to the shock move Najib made last week against arch foe and former mentor Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir, the former prime minister who ruled Malaysia from 1981 to 2003, has yet to make any response, although a 'life goes on' comment from one of his most well-known loyalists hints of what's come.

Already there is talk of secret deals struck, 'safe passage' finally agreed on to pave the way for Najib to step down.

"This is lunchtime. Continue with your meal. No point losing appetite. Avoid heart attack and stomach cramp," wrote Kadir Jasin, the former boss of Umno-controlled NST media group.

"You think the PM cares if you drop dead of remorse and disappointment?"

"Life goes on."  - Malaysia Chronicle