Muhyiddin refutes Najib's claim no public funds used to repay 1MDB debts

PARLIAMENT | Former premier Muhyiddin Yassin has refuted the claim by Pekan MP Najib Abdul Razak that not a single sen of public funds was used by the government to repay the principal amount of 1MDB debts.

Muhyiddin (Bersatu-Pagoh) reminded Najib that 1MDB debts are guaranteed by the government and so when 1MDB failed to repay its debts, the government is the one who has to fork out money to pay off the debts.

“The finance minister had informed that the government already paid RM13.3 billion of 1MDB’s debt so far. This is the rakyat’s money lah,” Muhyiddin (above) said during his debate on the royal address in the Dewan Rakyat today.

Najib, who is also a former prime minister, had previously argued in the Dewan Rakyat that the amount was not paid by public funds, but from the 1MDB money that was returned to Malaysia from various entities such as Goldman Sachs, audit firms KPMG and Deloitte, Ambank and the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Muhyiddin today quipped that perhaps what Najib meant was that the government had successfully repatriated the stolen 1MDB money and assets in order to pay off the debts.

Former PM Najib Abdul Razak

He pointed out that the task force that successfully sought the return of those funds and assets was formed during his time as prime minister.

With the help of this task force, RM23 billion had been successfully repatriated, he said.

“Imagine if Najib was still the prime minister. I do not think he would form this special task force to trace down the 1MDB money and assets that went missing because the one who caused the money to go missing is him.”

Confused

Muhyiddin had also said he was “confused” as to why Najib accused his administration of wasting money and leaving the country’s finances in ruins.

He said the “hundreds of billions” his government used was spent on measures against Covid-19, vaccines and economic stimulus packages meant to assist the rakyat.

Muhyiddin said describing this use of money as wasteful is very irresponsible and insensitive to the plight of those affected by the pandemic.

“Many people I meet have thanked the government for the aid they received during the pandemic,” he added.

Muhyiddin’s administration had allocated RM530 billion through various economic stimulus packages since the pandemic began. - Mkini