Prime Minister Najib Razak must give direct answers to the many questions surrounding the embattled 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), not promise to resolve its issues, said an opposition leader.

“Malaysians do not want Najib to play the role of ace magician like David Copperfield by just winding up and dissolving the 1MDB so as to claim that 1MDB controversy is no more as it has ceased to exist, but to be responsible for all 1MDB and 1MDB-related issues and scandals, including those passed off to other entities should there be a winding-up and dissolution of 1MDB.

“Malaysians want a straightforward answer from the prime minister: Is Najib giving an undertaking to the nation that he and all his ministers will resign and retire from politics if the 1MDB scandal and all-related 1MDB issues are not resolved by the end of the year?” asked DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang.

He was responding to Najib’s assurance to Umno divisions yesterday that he would resolve 1MDB's problems before the year-end.

The PM has however not answered mounting questions from both sides of the political divide over the many exposes regarding 1MDB’s financial transactions, its monstrous debt and its links with businessman Jho Low.

MPs' attempts to get him to answer in Parliament have also failed.

Significantly, his disappearing act from the highly anticipated ‘ Nothing 2 Hide ’ forum on June 5 in which he was slated to address 1MDB’s issues with NGOs was a national showstopper.

‘Still waiting for answer’

Lim said instead of a closed-door briefing to Umno grassroots leaders, the PM should be addressing MPs in Parliament, which is currently in session.

“Malaysians are still waiting for Najib’s answer,” he said.

He asked if Najib has told his party grassroots that he is the “final approving authority for 1MDB deals, investments and transactions and as such, he cannot pass the buck of final responsibility for 1MDB scandal to the 1MDB board or the management”.

Lim mused if the briefing has also heard Najib explain how1MDB could “pile up RM42 billion debts in six years”, or detailed his and 1MDB’s relationship with Jho Low.

“On June 3, I drafted ‘Ten questions on 1MDB for dummies’ which all cabinet ministers should be able to answer, but no cabinet minister seems able to do so.

“Can all who attended Najib’s special briefing yesterday be able to answer all these 10 questions?” he quipped.

“If the answers are in the negative, how could the Umno divisional leaders go out to explain to the public that the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal does not exist, and that all the 1MDB deals, debts, investments and transactions are proper and above-board?”