US’ civil suits on 1MDB no conspiracy, says Nurul

Lembah Pantai MP Nurul Izzah Anwar says the civil forfeiture lawsuits filed by the US Department of Justice with regard to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) cannot be regarded as part of a conspiracy against the country.

Speaking at an open house event at Lembah Pantai here today, Nurul explained that other countries including Switzerland and Singapore were also investigating the alleged misappropriation of funds from 1MDB.

“If this is indeed a conspiracy then that would mean that the whole world is involved in a conspiracy against Malaysia,” she said.

She added that back in 2011, her father, former Opposition de facto leader Anwar Ibrahim, had warned that 1MDB would throw the country into debt.

“He had already told us that if we fail to uncover the truth about 1MDB, the country would be in great debt and now look at us.”

She said that despite certain parties trying to keep people in the dark about 1MDB, the truth would be revealed one way or another.

She added that it was no longer a question of Prime Minister Najib Razak alone resigning as the entire Cabinet should be held responsible for the 1MDB controversy.

“This is no longer about him (Najib) stepping down. Don’t step down because the whole Cabinet must be held responsible.”

On Wednesday, the US Department of Justice filed a civil action to seize USD1 billion worth of assets allegedly obtained through funds belonging to 1MDB.

1MDB is the government’s investment arm and is wholly-owned by the Finance Ministry, which is headed by Najib as finance minister. There is also a Second Finance Minister holding the portfolio.