'Ignoramus' KJ gored over 'fear not' pledge

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An opposition leader has branded Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin as an "ignoramus" over the latter's remarks regarding the special task force.

His pledge that ministers would ensure the task force executes its duties without fear or favour amidst concerns that it might be compromised was also dismissed as an "empty promise".

To hammer home his point, Lim Kit Siang ( photo ), cited Malaysiakini 's headline for the article on Khairy which reads, " Fear not, ministers will ensure task force does its job ".

On the contrary, the DAP stalwart commented: "I say, be very afraid..."

"What nonsense is Khairy talking about. How can cabinet ministers ensure the investigation is done without fear or favour when they cannot ensure the establishment of the task force is done without fear or favour?" he asked.

"The 35 cabinet ministers cannot be unaware that Malaysians have no confidence in the task force because its four 'Tan Sri' are all junior, subordinate, and beholden to Najib Abdul Razak, whether as finance minister or prime minister, when Najib is in fact the accused in the investigations.

"This is why Malaysians want independent and reputable Malaysians to investigate the allegation that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Najib's personal bank accounts in AnBank within two weeks of dissolution of Parliament on April 3, 2013," he added.

The task force, headed by Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, comprises inspector-general of police Khalid Abu Bakar, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission chief Abu Kassim Mohamed, and Bank Negara governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

All four have the honorific title 'Tan Sri'.

Continuing his tirade, Lim said Khairy’s assurance is "far fetched" and "not worthy of any belief" as ministers have absolutely no powers to determining the establishment of the task force, its composition and scope.

"Do ministers agree that the prime minister as accused should be able to dictate the scope of the investigations, when Najib said the 'scope' of the task force is to investigate the claim as to whether he used 1MDB funds for his personal interest?" he asked.

"Do ministers know whether the task force will be investigating if Najib has personal banking accounts, whether RM2.6 billion were deposited in them, and to probe where the RM2.6 billion came from and where it went to?

"Furthermore, can ministers tell the public whether the task force will be investigating into all aspects of the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal spanning the past six years?" he added.

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