Stop making an ass of yourself, Pua tells 1MDB

The contest between 1MDB and one of its harshest critics has deteriorated to the level of assigning animal names to each other.

After being described as a "one trick pony" by the firm for "repeating stale allegations", DAP lawmaker Tony Pua urged 1MDB to "stop making an ass of itself".

He also criticised 1MDB for "not being able to answer a simple question".

"Why can't 1MDB provide a straightforward and simple answer to Malaysians if it is innocent of any wrongdoing?

"Why must 1MDB hide behind the secrecy veil of the Public Accounts Committee and auditor-general if it has nothing to hide?" he told a press conference in the Parliament lobby.

"1MDB can call me whatever it likes - a pony, donkey or monkey. However it should stop making an ass of itself by thinking Malaysians are stupid and easily deceived by its attempt to cover up the multi-billion shenanigans," he charged.

He was referring to the question on why 1MDB paid US$1.4 billion to a British Virgin Island (BVI) registered entity "Aabar Investment PJS Limited" instead of "Aabar Investment PJS", a subsidiary of International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC).

"1MDB claimed that the purpose of the US$1.4 billion payment is explained in the Deloitte-audited financial statements of 2013 and 2014.

“Why was the payment made to a BVI-registered Aabar instead to the real Aabar (as stipulated in the agreement)?" he asked.

The Wall Street Journal had reported that US$155 million of the BVI registered Aabar fund, found its way to Red Granite Pictures.

The US-based Red Granite is owned by Riza Aziz, the stepson of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

However, 1MDB has denied claims of funding Red Granite's 'Wolf of Wall Street', starring Leonardo diCaprio.

1MDB emphasised that it provided detailed explanations along with supporting documentary evidence to the Auditor-General's Department and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

In a media statement yesterday, the firm also suggested that Pua might be suffering from selective amnesia as well.

"1MDB has previously clarified the purpose behind the US$1.4 billion deposit paid to Aabar.

"In fact, the purpose is described in clear and transparent terms in note 24 (a), page 96 of the 1MDB financial statements dated 31.03.2013 and note 23 (a), page 101 of the 1MDB audited financial statements dated 31.03.2014.

"More importantly, for all major payments made by the company, 1MDB has provided detailed explanations along with supporting documentary evidence to the Auditor-General's Department," it said. -Mkini