Most Read
Most Commented
mk-logo
News
M'sians not stupid as cows, Dr M's lawyer tells Shahrizat
Published:  Jul 24, 2016 2:09 PM
Updated: Jul 25, 2016 10:36 AM

A lawyer has told Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil, who classed the US' forfeiture lawsuit against 1MDB as foreign meddling, that Malaysians are not as stupid as cows.

"My dearest Shahrizat, the US Department of Justice's (DOJ) court forfeiture cause papers have nothing whatsoever to do with foreigners meddling in our beloved nation's internal affairs.

"In fact, it's to do with our own fraudsters meddling with foreign laws and regulations," said Haniff Khatri Abdulla in a Facebook post today.

"So, don't ever dare to think that we, the rakyat Malaysia, are as stupid as cows. In fact, even actual cows by now, should already know the actual truth," he added.

Haniff is representing Dr Mahathir Mohamad, former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chief Khairuddin Abu Hassan and former Langkawi Wanita Umno member Anina Saadudin, in their suit against Najib for alleged misconduct on the part of the prime minister involving strategic development fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

Shahrizat had stated the movement rejected all efforts by certain quarters to take the opportunity of using foreign powers, and the recent scandal involving alleged money laundering in 1MDB, to topple Malaysia's democratically elected government.

"The consequences of such tactics will get out of hand, just as what occurred to Iraq and Syria, which in the end not only invited conflict, but also prolonged the civil war," she had said yesterday.

Ahmad Shabery questioned

In another Facebook post uploaded today, Haniff also questioned if Umno minister Ahmad Shabery Cheek should defend individuals named in DOJ lawsuit.

"Since when a Malaysian minister is entrusted to become a spokeperson for two Malaysians who were summoned abroad for (allegedly) acquiring illegal funds and assets of a company owned by the government?," asked the lawyer.

He was responding to the agriculture and agro-based industries minister who yesterday dismissed the DOJ's lawsuit against Prime Minister Najib Razak stepson Riza Shariz Abdul Aziz and Jho Low as a "normal matter".

Haniff urged the minister to read the lawsuit documents filed by US government against Riza and Low thoroughly.

"As a minister, shouldn't you ask if the assets, which DOJ applied to seize, were obtained through misappropration of 1MDB funds," he said.

The minister should instead ask how could the Malaysian government reclaim other assets in Malaysia or abroad that belonged to the duo, added Haniff.

"How could you defend the duo's right as though this is far more important than the right of Malaysians? Is this the attitude and behaviour expected from a minister ?" he asked.

DOJ has cracked down on alleged misappropriation of 1MDB funds, through the use of civil suits on July 20.

The DOJ claimed that more than US$3.5 billion had been diverted from 1MDB over the course of several years, to the benefit of several individuals including an unnamed high ranking public servant dubbed 'Malaysian Official 1'.

ADS