YOURSAY ‘What Westminister system is Zaid talking about here?’

 

Audit report won't save your neck, Zaid tells PM

Appum: Former law minister Zaid Ibrahim said the government cannot operate on the principles of BN and Umno. This statement in particular is most glaring and telling.

 

Because the Umno-BN government has been in power for the last 58 years without a break, that’s why there’s such an environment of political monopoly and self-righteousness.

 

For the last few decades there was no viable opposition to them and with a two-thirds majority, they can play wonderful games with their authority and control. But since 2008, it has been a different story.

 

However with the political DNA they have developed through the decades, they think they can last for another decade with two kinds of laws - one for Umno-BN and another for the rakyat. These kinds of laws are actually unashamedly implemented by their institutions.

 

What Westminister system is Zaid talking about here? It is more of a Bolehland system, if we need a label for it. Enough is enough.

 

6th Generation Immigrant: This principle applies across the board to the pillars of our administration - the Agong, the Rulers’ Council, the upper house, the lower house, executives, the civil servants, the police, the armed forces and municipalities. 

 

No administration should operate as though they are owned by BN and Umno. BN and Umno can however - if and when they have the majority in the government - try to influence an outcome but transparently.

 

But the final decisions still lie with the pillars and their brilliant leaders selected on the principle of meritocracy, to serve king and country - not political parties. So can anyone guess when we lost this principle?

 

IC 13: Zaid Ibrahim is talking nonsense. The audit is not to save Premier Najib Abdul Razak's neck. Its purpose is to find out where the money has gone and to establish if there’s any misconduct or misuse of power by the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) management.

 

Dr Manhattan: Our premier has ordered the auditor-general to independently verify 1MDB’s accounts. He also said that the company would face legal repercussions if there was any wrongdoing. Therefore there is no need to argue over this.

 

Uncle_Prakash: I believe some of them mentioned that if 1MDB fails and the government has to take up all its debts, Malaysia could go bankrupt.

 

On Oct 29 last year, Najib revealed that Malaysia's debt as of end June 2014, stood at RM568.9 billion or 52.8 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).

 

Let's assume that 1MDB's total audited assets of RM51.41 billion is worth zero and 1MDB defaults on all its bonds, this will add RM37.84 billion to Malaysia's total debt of RM568.9 billion - making it RM606.74 billion in total.

 

This would mean that Malaysia's debt to GDP would rise to 56.31 percent. Would this mean that Malaysia had gone bankrupt due to 1MDB?

 

Lee Hup: Personal attacks are used by the opposition to tarnish the good name of our leader. It is clear that the 1MDB issue is under investigation by the auditor-general and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).

 

A full report of the investigation is out soon, so be patient.

 

Mamadias: Those who support Najib, please just answer these very short questions:

 

If the IMDB accounts were audited and approved by audit firm Deloitte, then just please show Parliament where the RM42 billion has gone.

 

In audited accounts, there are assets and liabilities. In this case, the liabilities is RM42 billion in short and long term debts (which include conventional bonds, bank borrowings and sukuk) and any other payables.

 

On the assets side, there should be an equivalent amount represented, which may include power plants, land or securities or other forms of paper assets. Why is it so difficult to show this to the rakyat via Parliament?

 

Especially when the 1MDB board and the Finance Ministry keep telling the whole world that the accounts have been audited by international firms for three years. Just answer this, Mr PM.

 

Cmfoo: On the account of lying in Parliament on the Cayman Island funds redeemed in cash and kept in Singapore bank, which turned out to be false, Najib, as the premier and finance minister, and other ministers involved, must resign and/or be prosecuted to the full extent of the law, to uphold the country's credibility and integrity.

 

RR: Thank you, Zaid Ibrahim, for enlightening on the facts and principles of decision-making by the cabinet in a parliamentary democracy. Most of them don’t believe in the system.

 

It is sad that you left active politics. PKR should have retained you. Perhaps you should join the new party, Ikatan.

 

JD Lovrenciear: Sir, you have said it all in the most appropriate language and terms. If the prime minister does not resign or worse, if his cohorts stand by him still, then democracy is dead in Malaysia.                                                                              

 

Angry Citizen: Zaid, you always hit the nail on the head; keep up the good work. If we had more enlightened ones like you, this country can go places.

 

Presently, it can only go to the Cayman Islands, and other shady places.

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