For old timers who feel 'invincible', Puad cites case of Pol Pot's friend

 

Umno supreme council member Mohd Puad Zakarshi said there are certain quarters in Malaysia who consider themselves above the law.

“Therefore, the authorities must not compromise. Investigate them even if they are advanced in age,” he said.

To illustrate his point, Puad cited the case of the late Cambodian dictator Pol Pot’s “friend” Khieu Samphan, 92, who is in prison after being convicted of genocide.

Puad dragged in former premier Dr Mahathir Mohamad and ex-finance minister Daim Zainuddin when voicing his objection to the documentary “Man on the Run”, which chronicles the 1MDB scandal.

Although the documentary focused on fugitive financier Low Taek Jho (Jho Low), the Umno leader felt the need to point out that former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak did not flee.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad (right) and Daim Zainuddin

“Who is the real man on the run? Daim, Muhyiddin’s (Yassin) son-in-law or Mahathir? Najib did not run despite facing tens of charges. He will never run,” he said on Facebook.

MACC is investigating Daim over the Pandora Papers leak whereas the commission has classified former prime minister Muhyiddin’s son-in-law Muhammad Adlan Berhan as a wanted person in connection with a corruption probe.

Najib, on the other hand, is serving a 12-year prison sentence over his conviction in the SRC International case. He is also facing a slew of charges related to 1MDB.

Meanwhile, Puad said there is a basis for Najib’s lawyer Muhammad Shafee Abdullah asking the government to compel Netflix to take down the documentary.

“There is a lot of wrong, prejudice, slanderous, and unfair information about Najib, who is still facing trial,” he added.

Former prime minister Najib Abdul Razak

Previously, Umno Youth also criticised the documentary, claiming it linked Najib to the murders of deputy public prosecutor Anthony Kevin Morais and Mongolian national Altantuya Shaariibuu.

“Man on the Run” director Cassius Michael Kim has since accused Najib of wanting to cover the unpleasant truths about himself and his administration.

“It fits the pattern of Najib that once again, he seeks to silence those who would reveal unpleasant truths about him and his actions - even if the words happen to come out of his own mouth.

“All of this is a distraction... desperate actions by desperate people who once again seek to avoid accountability at the expense of the Malaysian people,” he said. - Mkini