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Najib and 1MDB - ball in Malay rulers' court
Published:  Mar 2, 2016 5:43 PM
Updated: 10:03 PM

Veteran newsman A Kadir Jasin has posed several questions to the Malay rulers regarding the leadership of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak and his allegation-riddled brainchild 1MDB.

He was responding to Perak ruler Sultan Nazrin Muizziddin Shah who urged Putrajaya to bolster its anti-graft efforts as Malaysia's poor score in Transparency International's (TI) corruption perception index was cause for alarm.

Among others, Kadir asked if the rulers were satisfied with the Najib administration’s reaction to their decree on 1MDB.

He noted that last October, the rulers urged for investigations into 1MDB to be expedited and action be taken if wrongdoing is detected.

“Close to five months have passed. During this period, Abdul Gani Patail’s service as attorney-general was terminated on health grounds. There was no medical board called.

“But Abdul Gani is healthy enough to set up his own law firm. His successor Mohamed Apandi Ali was appointed under suspicious circumstances,” he added in a blog posting.

Kadir also asked if the rulers were satisfied that the Yang di-Pertuan Agong was indeed given accurate information regarding Gani’s health when his highness agreed to the termination of his service.

He also questioned if the rulers agreed with what has transpired concerning the investigations into 1MDB to date.

The former News Straits Times group editor-in-chief also touched on the National Security Council Bill, asking if it was due to concern that the rulers urged the attorney-general to refine certain provisions.

“Constitutional and legal experts argue that the bill gives absolute powers to the prime minister as well as the police and armed forces to declare emergency...” he added.

Kadir also asked if the rulers would call for the setting up of a royal commission of inquiry into 1MDB, Najib’s personal bank accounts and the RM42 million from SRC International.

“Finally, are the Malay rulers on the same page ( sehati sejiwa ) with the people to save Malaysia?

“The time has come for all Malaysians - from rulers to loyal citizens, regardless of religion, race, ideologies and parties - to unite to save Malaysia through a lawful, peaceful and civilised manner,” he added.

Najib has repeatedly denied the allegations against him, attributing them to those attempting to engineer his downfall.

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