Why a re-visit? Why a walk down the past? It is an examination of the past and comparing it to the current. It is a reminder of the grim periods that our society went through. It is a tribute to many who stood up despite the tribulations and personal loss of liberty.
As we approach yet another election, it should serve as a reminder of that tumultuous period when every institution of the state was used – all to protect one man and his coterie of benefactors. Many lost their jobs and pensions, others were cold-storaged, and this is a tribute to the few who stood up to the authoritarian yet illegal methods used to suppress the truth.
In July 2015, the Wall Street Journal dropped a bombshell which reverberated around the world. Today, seven years later, the issue continues to make the headlines although the perpetrator is behind bars.
The newspaper reported that 1MDB investigators discovered five separate deposits from two sources that were made into then prime minister Najib Abdul Razak’s accounts.
The largest two transactions, it said, were for US$621 million (RM2.3 billion) and US$61 million allegedly made in March 2013, shortly before the 2013 general election.
A further transfer of RM42 million, purportedly made into Najib’s account at the end of 2014 and the beginning of 2015, is believed to have come from SRC International Sdn Bhd, a former subsidiary of 1MDB that was in 2012 parked under the Finance Ministry that Najib heads, WSJ said.
Almost immediately, Najib announced he would file a suit against the US newspaper but nothing materialised.
Then came the report from the US Department of Justice (DOJ) whose 131-page report outlined the methodology and the key players involved in the multi-billion-ringgit scandal.
As media houses began to unravel details of the scandal surrounding the 1MDB funds, probes began around the globe resulting in dozens of investigations against politicians, bankers and financial institutions by authorities in at least 10 countries.
Conspiracy theories abound
But at home, the psychopaths and cronies made valiant but futile attempts to protect the scoundrels behind the scandal. There was no dearth of allies and supporters who extolled conspiracy theories.
The most famous line that was used was that the whole scandal was “created by foreign powers” to “overthrow a democratically elected government”.
While many, ministers included, stood in line to denounce the revelations, the attack dogs were also let loose to demean the critics.
Leading the pack was the minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan who maintained that Najib was not subject to the 1MDB investigation as the probe did not in any way implicate the (then) prime minister.
“If there are any guilty parties in this investigation, they should be penalised. The important thing is that in the released documents, the prime minister is not involved in the investigation,” he said.
Then Communications and Multimedia Minister Salleh Said Keruak pointed out that the DOJ was acting merely on complaints it received and had made it clear the civil forfeiture complaint contained allegations which are not proven until a court decided otherwise.
Against this background, two important announcements attempted to change the course of events.
On Jan 27, 2016, then attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali declared that Najib had not committed any criminal offence in the case of the US$681 million donation, and also cleared him of wrongdoing in another indirect transfer of RM42 million from SRC International to his personal bank account.
Apandi's findings that the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion at the time) transferred into Najib's personal bank account between March 22 and April 10, 2013, was a “personal donation” from the Saudi royal family and given without any consideration - were greeted with disdain and disbelief.
On April 8, DAP’s Tan Seng Giaw who was Public Accounts Committee (PAC) vice-chairperson announced that the prime minister should not be held accountable for the dealings by 1MDB.
“Najib is not involved in the company’s dealings as he was just a chairperson of the advisory board. I think those on the board of directors and management, and those who run the company, are the people we have to probe. That will be the correct thing to do. Legally speaking, how can you take action against people who have done nothing?” he then said.
‘Najib is clean’
This was followed by a chorus of “Najib is clean” which was echoed around the country by minions and ministers.
Umno information chief Annuar Musa said the PAC report should absolve 1MDB of allegations that it lost RM42 billion and transferred RM2.6 billion into the personal accounts of the prime minister.
“It is impossible for him to be involved in the company’s day-to-day operations. The management of 1MDB should be commended for its success in managing the company despite the pressure mounted by various parties that affected its reputation,” he had said.
MCA’s Wee Ka Siong said the PAC report showed that the prime minister was not behind the management of 1MDB. “They were just pure business deals. We should learn from the weaknesses which have been identified and move on,”
S Vell Paari, who was then MIC treasurer, said the report should bring an end to all baseless accusations levelled against the prime minister adding that those who used false information on 1MDB and the RM2.6 billion political donation was an attempt to bring down Najib should be investigated for treason.
Even Najib’s then erstwhile deputy, Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, stood in line to say his piece. He said he had met the wealthy Arab royal family who had donated the US$700 million that was channelled into Najib’s personal account.
He said the family, who he did not name, had donated the money because of Malaysia’s commitment to fighting terrorism and being a moderate Muslim country with a plural society.
But all was not hunky dory, especially when the protagonists thought the attempts to “damage control” had succeeded.
On Aug 17, 2016, former minister in the Prime Minister's Department Zaid Ibrahim filed a lawsuit against Najib and three others to recover the US$731 million (RM2.6 billion) and RM42 million allegedly banked into the prime minister's accounts.
Zaid, now Najib’s former lawyer and his principal cheerleader, claimed that Najib had breached his fiduciary duties when he allegedly received the funds. The suit was dismissed.
The outcome of the 2018 hustings brought in a new government and a wave of change. The investigating authorities were allowed to do their duties independently and in 2018, the first of many charges against those involved in the 1MDB scandal was filed.
After lengthy trials, some of the perpetrators were found guilty, while cases of others are pending.
Memories may fade away but history must be recorded, if not for anything but for posterity. - Mkini
R NADESWARAN is a veteran journalist who writes on bread-and-butter issues. Comments: citizen.nades22@gmail.com.
The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of MMKtT.
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