After untold months of utter silence and inaction, two days ago attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali suddenly said that investigation papers into 1MDB were still ongoing.
He said further investigation into 1MDB is necessary following "the lack of evidence in certain areas".
"When the investigation papers are referred to us, we go through them. We find a lack of evidence. So, we give instruction that the team should carry out investigation in certain areas (to the police)...
"About 20 to 25 percent of the investigation papers need to be reviewed," he said at a press conference.
If he really needed more evidence, why did Apandi reject the request for mutual legal assistance from the Swiss Attorney General?
In fact, why hasn't Apandi sought assistance from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) for more information on the tens of billions of ringgit allegedly laundered from 1MDB funds?
Instead, in June this year, Apandi chose to dismiss the evidence put forward by the US DOJ by accusing them of being "politically motivated". The question for our AG is: Did he even investigate those claims before concluding that they were "politically motivated"?
Similarly, the police are complicit in this shameful game of passing the parcel.
In September, the newly appointed inspector-general of police Mohd Fuzi Haron (photo) announced that the police had closed its investigations and wouldn't reopen them unless instructed by the PAC or the cabinet.
Is the new IGP so spineless that he will not investigate crimes without the green light of his political masters?
The AG too has only confirmed the continuing investigations because of Minister in Prime Minister's Department Azalina Othman's reply in Parliament on Oct 30 that they were still ongoing.
The Malaysian authorities seem to think that the 1MDB issue is a big joke given the way they've been handling it. Investigations start and close and get reopened by different authorities, yet no one seems to be getting closer to any firm conclusions.
In Parliament, questions on 1MDB get rejected because matters are either in court or under investigations. Which court matter or investigations they are rejected on are never revealed.
It cannot be clearer that all the institutions enshrined in our constitution to protect the interest of the people from criminals such as those who have robbed 1MDB of billions of ringgit have been compromised by the top leadership of BN.
The people of Malaysia have a heavy responsibility in the coming general election as only they can punish those who have grossly abused their power, accrued outrageous wealth for themselves and failed Malaysians who have placed their trust in them.
TONY PUA is the Petaling Jaya Utara MP and the DAP publicity secretary.- Mkini
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