Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak should face the Public Accounts Committee investigating 1MDB, says a former lawmaker. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, July 11, 2015.
A former Umno minister has urged Public Accounts Committee chairman Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed to haul up the prime minister in its investigation into the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) in order to restore the people's faith in Malay leaders.
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim said PAC could then ask Datuk Seri Najib Razak where the money in his personal bank accounts come from and other questions in relation to claims by The Wall Street Journal that some US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) ended up in Najib's personal accounts, which have since been closed.
Writing in his blog, Zaid added that it would be good to hear from the prime minister for a change, instead of 1MDB president Arul Kanda Kandasamy.
"He can ask the PM who owns Tanore Finance, a BVI company.
"He can ask the PM who authorised money transfers into his Ambank AmPrivate account from Falcon International.
"He can ask the PM what was the balance in the account when it was closed in August 2013. What did he do with the balance?" said Zaid.
He said otherwise, the PAC chief could take the path of the meek and the hypocrites, where educated Malays in the Cabinet, Parliament and those heading public institutions thought that position and wealth was everything, and as such, chose to remain silent.
“They understand what criminal offences such as breach of trust, corruption and money laundering are, yet they plead ignorance.
"They tell themselves that it’s okay to loot and steal if it's in the interest of the party."
Speaking of the so-called meek group, Zaid said they were also aware that WSJ was a reputable publication like The New York Times, adding that both publications have made serious allegations against the prime minister.
"Yet these Melayus say it’s all just part of a Jewish conspiracy.
"They show no interest to find the real answers.
"If they are they would not limit the task force to just answer the question: is the money in Ambank Accounts for Najib’s personal use?"
Nur Jazlan told a press conference yesterday PAC has not decided if they would be calling Najib to face the committee.
"We would rather follow the structure.
"After next month when we have called the CEOs and board of directors, we will decide," Nur Jazlan said, referring to 1MDB officials.
WSJ last week reported that some US$700 million was channelled into Najib’s personal accounts.
The business daily also uploaded documents used in its report which showed instructions for telegraphic transfers and charts on the money trail.
A special task force looking into the allegations confirmed that Najib had accounts at AmBank, but the two accounts had been closed before the WSJ broke the story.
Najib has since denied taking 1MDB funds for “personal use” but has not commented directly on the transfer of the money into his accounts.
He instead blamed former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad for masterminding the latest allegations.
The task force has since frozen six bank accounts, though none is owned by Najib.
- TMI
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