PETALING JAYA: DAP chairman Lim Guan Eng has questioned if Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob was aware of the meeting between the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC) and representatives of fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low.
The Bagan MP said Ismail must come clean on the issue, and also declare if he gave the green light to Attorney-General Idrus Harun to proceed with the meeting.
“The prime minister must explain if he was informed and approved the AG’s decision to have the meeting, otherwise it raises the question of whether such a move was done unilaterally and arbitrarily,” he said in a statement today.
The former finance minister urged Ismail to provide a response to prevent speculation that would only jeopardise ongoing action not only against those responsible in the 1MDB scandal but also recovery of its financial assets.
“If Ismail is ignorant of the matter, can Idrus act independently of the government on such an important policy matter?
“If he was aware and sanctioned Idrus to allow the meeting with Low’s representatives, then does he possess the authority to do so without Cabinet approval, since key ministries were left in the dark?” he said.
Lim also took a swipe at Idrus, saying that unless he provides a full account of the “disgraceful affair”, he is unqualified to be the attorney-general.
“Did the AGC convey to Low’s representatives that the government strongly advises Low to surrender himself to the Malaysian authorities?
“Idrus, by appearing prepared to cut a deal with Low, would be no different from forgiving and absolving Jho Low of his crimes and pernicious role as one of the key masterminds of the RM52 billion 1MDB financial scandal, the largest in global history.”
According to Lim, the meeting between the AGC and Low’s representatives would not only turn the country into an object of harsh criticism, but it would also mean that “criminals involved in corruptly stealing money could escape punishment merely by surrendering a part of their ill-gotten gains”.
On Saturday, former attorney-general Apandi Ali confirmed that he had been contacted by Low’s lawyers to arrange a meeting with the AGC, which was held in May.
He said the meeting was to discuss the repatriation of monies allegedly siphoned by Low from 1MDB. However, he said the negotiations fell through for reasons unknown to him.
It was previously reported that Low had offered the government RM1.5 billion to settle the charges against him, but all offers were rejected by the AGC.
The proposal was said to be negotiated with Putrajaya by Apandi, who represented Low in the negotiations, according to financial daily The Edge, which quoted sources.
Bukit Gelugor MP Ramkarpal Singh then questioned if Apandi was paid by Low’s lawyers for helping to arrange the meeting.
“If he was paid, then was such payment made from the 1MDB funds allegedly siphoned by the businessman?
“Apandi should clear the air without any delay to avoid unnecessary speculation that may arise from such negotiations,” he added in a statement yesterday. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.