Thanks, but no thanks - Johari declines Pua's offer

Finance Minister II Johari Abdul Ghani has turned down DAP lawmaker Tony Pua's invitation to attend a fund-raising dinner to put forth his arguments on 1MDB.

"Thanks for inviting me, but I have said enough in my open letter to him. I hear him and I take note of his opinion. I respect him as (an) opposition (lawmaker).

"I have to do my job as a minister and I would do the best for the country," Johari told Malaysiakini.

Elaborating, the Umno supreme council member said attending the dinner would not resolve the 1MDB issue in the manner Pua hopes.

"Even if I had lunch or dinner (with Pua), it would not solve the problem the way he wants, because I am not the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), police and investigation agencies. So, let these agencies do their work.

"Nowhere in my letter did I mention I want these agencies to stop their investigation," he added.

Meanwhile, Johari also pointed to a KiniTV video on March 21, 2016, where Pua had said that a leader must go on leave if charged in court for alleged wrongdoings.

"Ask him if he is a principled man, and to explain his statement in the video

"Apparently innocent until proven guilty is not applicable to BN as far as Pua is concerned," he added.

In the video, Pua was asked if Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng should go on leave during the period when the latter was being investigated by the MACC.

"When MACC has the ability to charge, then the person must go on leave. Investigate quickly, finish the investigation (and decide whether) to charge or not to charge," he had said.

Guan Eng has been charged with two counts of corruption, but still remains in office.

This morning, Pua in extending the invitation, said Johari would be given an hour to speak to the voters in the DAP MP's constituency of Petaling Jaya Utara.

He said the minister would also have the chance to put 1MDB's chief critics “out of business”, since those slated to attend the May 6 dinner are former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang, Parti Amanah Negara (Amanah) president Mohamad Sabu and PKR vice-president Rafizi Ramli.

Last week, Johari penned an open letter to Pua urging him to cease his relentless attacks on 1MDB.

Johari also said that the Petaling Jaya Utara PJU voters had cast their ballots for Pua to do better things, instead of being obsessed over 1MDB.- Mkini