PARLIAMENT | As far as Bung Moktar Radin (BN-Kinabatangan) is concerned, the claim that luxury yacht Equanimity belongs to a Malaysian is "fake news."
Debating the Yang di-Pertuan Agong's speech in Parliament today, Bung decried what he believes to be the rampant spread of fake news by the opposition.
He also refuted claims that the country was going bankrupt, citing the amount of money spent by Malaysians overseas last year.
"Who said the country is bankrupt? Batu goes to Singapore every week, what's the problem?" he said, referring to Tian Chua (PKR-Batu).
Responding to this, Chua admitted that Malaysians are not poor.
"We have luxury yachts in Bali, we are known all over the world that we are developed and that rich people can own a yacht which I think even (Malaysian billionaire) Robert Kuok cannot afford.
"Malaysians are proud because we have a figure who owns a yacht," he added, referring to the Equanimity, which is linked to Penang-born businessperson Jho Low.
Responding to this, Bung said this was an example of the opposition spreading fake news.
"Which court has declared that the yacht belongs to a Malaysian?" he retorted.
Chua then asked whether this meant that the Indonesian authorities, who seized the yacht, had spread fake news.
Bung, however, said this was similar to the US Department of Justice's investigation in relation to funds allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.
"Until today, the DOJ cannot prove anything, no one has been brought to court (and) the opposition keeps lying," he added.
Indonesian authorities, together with the US Federal Bureau of Investigations, had seized the luxury yacht off the coast of Teluk Benoa in Bali last week.
Following this, Jho Low, through his spokesperson, had criticised the DOJ's "global overreach."
In an assets forfeiture suit, the DOJ claimed Low had commissioned the Equanimity to be built for an estimated US$250 million (RM1 billion) using money allegedly misappropriated from 1MDB.
The DOJ believes that at least US$4.5 billion has been misappropriated from 1MDB, and is looking to recover approximately US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired in the US using these stolen funds.
M'sians overnourished
Meanwhile, Bung also refuted claims that some Malaysians do not have enough to eat, pointing out that many in the country die due to illnesses linked to overeating.
"Just now the Opposition Leader (Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail) said many children don't have enough nutritious food. I think this is another (instance of) fake news.
"In terms of food, I think the country is the most blessed by Allah with sustenance.
"Many people die due to overeating, many suffer from diabetes and high blood pressure because they eat meat and chicken everyday," he added. -Mkini
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