Party rebel savages ‘Umno divisional leaders’ on 1MDB

He describes them as “weak-minded and stupid” sycophants blindly following the dictates of the party on the issue.

GEORGE TOWN: Umno Batu Kawan divisional deputy chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan has taken issue with a public warning by Umno Ampang divisional chief Ismail Kijo on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), a state-owned investment vehicle which has troubled the financial sector. “He can keep his warning in the pocket.”

“The police report and that lodged with the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) was to ensure transparency in the financial administration of the company. It has postponed, not once but thrice, the repayment of loans taken from MayBank and RHB Bank.”

Khairuddin, very much in the news since lodging the police report on 1MDB over alleged financial improprieties, savaged Ismail as “weak-minded and stupid” and blindly following the dictates of the party on the issue. Ismail had pledged that Umno divisional leaders would do whatever is necessary to “break the agenda of certain people” and warned them to cease and desist.

“The people would rubbish such ‘weak-minded’ leaders,” added Khairuddin in a statement.

The Umno Batu Kawan divisional deputy chief is particularly upset that Ismail, acting as spokesman for the Umno divisions, referred to attempts to use a bankrupt – implying Khairuddin – “to sabotage 1MDB through allegations without any regard for dignity”.

Ismail had likened this “sabotage attempts against 1MDB” to speculators bringing down the value of the ringgit, and declaring that both approaches had the same objective i.e. sabotage the economy.

“If he wants to be a sycophant, he should know when to do it,” said Khairuddin in referring to the pledge by Ismail that the Umno divisions would “break any attempts to sabotage 1MDB and the economy and blacken the image of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak in line with the dictates of certain people”.

In stressing on the sycophancy at work, Khairuddin was evidently castigating Ismail for rubbishing past leaders allegedly involved in attempts to bring down Najib by using the 1MDB and related issues. “My actions so far have never been dictated by anyone,” stressed Khairuddin in the statement. “My struggle is for the truth in helping to save the Government’s money which is actually the people’s money.

“The reality is that improprieties must be opposed if Umno and the Barisan Nasional (BN) are to remain relevant in the hearts of the people.

“If Ismail doesn’t have the facts on 1MDB, alleged Khairuddin, “he should just keep quiet”. “A sycophant like this (Ismail), who doesn’t have the facts on 1MDB, wants to poke his nose into an issue which has nothing to do with Umno since the company is not owned by the party.

“Does Ismail know or understand the basic issues in the controversy surrounding 1MDB?

“The people at 1MDB have been lying, each and every time, claiming that the company is in a sound financial position,” alleged Khairuddin.

He referred to statements by 1MDB chiefs, CEO Arul Kanda and chairman Lodin Wok Kamaruddin, that RM8.3 billion parked by the company in the Cayman Islands has been redeemed, implying that the money had been brought back, but apparently there’s no sign of this huge sum entering the local banking and financial system.

“Ismail, who is weak-minded, doesn’t seem to understand that my questions are directed at 1MDB. The CEO has just issued misleading statements to confuse the people,” said Khairuddin. “Lodin has also issued statements that 1MDB has nothing to do with the Government or the people’s money.”

Umno divisions should focus on how Umno and BN can maintain their seats.

1MDB is owned 100 per cent by the Ministry of Finance, he pointed out, “so how can it be said that it has nothing to do with the Government?”

The RM1million initial funding was given by the Government, he stressed, the company’s RM5.5 billion debts have been directly guaranteed by it, and the company has also received tracts of state-owned land for projects including in Sungei Besi.

He advised Ismail to focus on how Umno and BN can maintain the seats that they now hold instead of “trying to fool the people” with statements designed to project himself as some sort of “hero” on the 1MDB issue. “Umno is the best party for the people. But that doesn’t mean it cannot be criticized,” said Khairuddin. “It must be understood that mistakes will happen and they must be pointed out.”

“Umno must be criticized if necessary, for its own good, and that of the people. It’s constructive and to ensure that the party doesn’t forget the roots of its struggle for race, religion and country. This is something that Ismail and many Umno divisional leaders don’t seem to understand.”