‘Civil suit on 1MDB arises from criminal activities’

Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali says the case points to corruption and kleptocracy.

SHAH ALAM: Selangor Menteri Besar Azmin Ali disagrees with those who say that “we should not make a mountain out of a mole hill because the 1MDB matter is merely a civil suit in the US”.

He said it was not just a civil suit. “It points to two key words, viz. corruption and kleptocracy.”

He warned that people would no longer allow the authorities to keep on making excuses to justify the wall of silence over the 1MDB controversy.

The Selangor Menteri Besar was speaking at a forum entitled, “Zooming In – An honest assessment of Freedom of Information in Malaysia”, on Monday at the Bangunan Annex, Selangor Legislative Assembly Building.

Azmin stressed the announcement by the US Department of Justice (DoJ) on the 1MDB controversy was not the usual civil suit.

“It was the culmination of investigations that showed a chain of criminal acts.”

He expressed dismay that the perpetrators specifically named by the DoJ were closely connected with those holding high positions in Malaysia.

“These are the very people who are the greatest stumbling blocks.

“We want greater transparency and freedom of information.”

Azmin said the Official Secrets Act (OSA) was being used to facilitate corruption.

“The law is being used by those in power to shield their wrongdoing from public scrutiny.

“It’s also being used as a weapon of mass oppression.”

The Selangor Menteri Besar took the stand that the people should have been able to put the freedom of information principle to actual use.

“They should be able to set it to the real litmus test.”

He said the public should be entitled to official information.

Freedom of information is a right, not a privilege, he maintained.