Yoursay: To us, 1MDB is a nothing but a big con job

YOURSAY | 'Why is 1MDB indebted to a tune of RM40b in the first place?'

1MDB bailout claim is misleading, says Najib

Quigonbond: Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak sadly misses the point entirely. The whole issue is: why is 1MDB indebted to a tune of RM40 billion in the first place, if not for valueless investment units, amongst other things?

Furthermore, the Finance Ministry took land belonging to the government on the cheap to sell to another government agency at a premium. Where is the sense in that?

The only people suffering are Malaysians whose share in national assets were diminished to cover the hole created by the misadventure, effectively squandering money to pay foreign creditors. If that is not called a bailout, I don’t know what is.

In any event, giving a piecemeal response through the media now is just pitiful. Najib has failed to debate anyone from Pakatan Harapan over this issue despite repeated challenges, which can only be ascribed to his lack of confidence in his ability to defend himself against much keener minds.

Anonymous 7478653098613829: Najib, you are the one misleading the public, not Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng. You said Ministry of Finance, Inc (MOF Inc) took over 1MDB's assets and therefore has to service its debts and liabilities.

Firstly, why was the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) set up to look into 1MDB if 1MDB is doing so well? Secondly, why did the PAC recommend MOF Inc to take over the assets of 1MDB?

Just admit that 1MDB was in deep trouble. It could not service its loans. 1MDB was set up without any assets and started borrowing money.

You gave the guarantee that the Malaysian government will back up the loan taken by 1MDB. Then the money disappeared or was lost.

You then gave government land to 1MDB, almost for free. You still had the cheek to claim that the land has the potential of RM30 billion when 1MDB did nothing to deserve the land.

Malaysia is now saddled with debt created by you through 1MDB. To me, 1MDB is a nothing but a big con job.

Zen: Whatever word is used to help out the financially stricken 1MDB - whether it is “bailout”, “assistance”, “help”, et cetera - is only a secondary issue.

The primary issue here is how on earth did Najib manage to steer 1MDB with a RM42 billion loan into this financial mess within only five short years?

The investments made are filled with scandals which cannot be accounted for. When the investments turned sour, Najib decided to involve the Finance Ministry in the predicament.

Of course, the assets were transferred to the MOF Inc but at what price?

The cheap assets bought from the government were revalued to balance the 1MDB debts. What it implies is that most of the loans are milked dry, and the debts or liabilities thereafter are to be balanced by the assets of 1MDB, which had been revalued from the assets that were acquired from the government at a dirt-cheap price.

Anonymous_1371465729: Two former directors have already confirmed that 1MDB is insolvent. That means its liabilities outweigh its assets. The shortfall has to be made good by the Finance Ministry. Is that not a bailout?

MasihBerharap: The assets belonged to the government in the first place, and without 1MDB, they would have remained with the government without having to pay a sen.

Anwar: Using commercial plane today, no private jet

Anonymous 381541456985626: De facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, it is good of you to accept the slip-up. We must know we can’t misuse the service rendered to us due to the position we hold because we have to practice what we preach.

Besides, currently everything is being watched and news of such slip-ups shared. Thus individuals, be it politicians or high-ranking government officers, must walk the talk. If not, they will become the subject of talk.

Kheng: Even on official government business, unless on critical or urgent matters, it is best to avoid using the government jet. In this instance, is meeting the king's mother considered official government business?

Whilst I applaud Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar's prompt clarification on the use of the government jet, I still find it unacceptable to use the government jet on an invitation to visit the king’s mother.

Anonymous_1371479577: Follow strict standards and fly on commercial airlines, with only very specific exceptions.

Any persons flying aboard a government jet that is not on government business should pay the equivalent of the normal business class fare to be reimbursed to the government.

The optics are too important for Pakatan Harapan leaders to ignore for the small price of comfort.

Hopelessly: Just because it's a royal invitation, it does not mean one should be allowed to take the government jet, particularly family members.

Remember a former minister who brought her husband and maid along on some “official” business trip?

Harapan must set the right example and establish clear guidelines to eliminate the unqualified use of state resources, especially when the country is facing debt and liabilities of more than RM1 trillion.

Those jets are sucking the rakyat's hard-earned cash and should be eliminated altogether, if possible.

Gerard Lourdesamy: My take is that Deputy Prime Minister Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail and Anwar were entitled to use the government jet to go to Kota Bahru for the royal audience with the Agong's mother, since it was an official invitation from the palace.

The children, including Nurul Izzah, could have taken a Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia or Malindo flight instead.

The cabinet office or Treasury should issue guidelines on the use of the government jets. As a cost-cutting measure, it would be better to ground all the jets for the time being and opt for commercial flights.

Anonymous3370255649_fh: My first reaction to this was not to be so unkind to Anwar and his kids, after all he's been through.

But - thinking about it further - I think he'd have had a wry smile and would have appreciated the netizens' diligence. - Mkini