COMMENT What transpired in the past week, especially with the filing of the Verified Complaint by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) on July 20, against the “international conspiracy to launder money misappropriated from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (‘1MDB’), triggers the pressing need for the Conference of Rulers, in accordance with the respective Royal Highnesses’ wisdom and discretion, to exercise the inherent and residual powers to intervene over the matter with all due haste, especially since it involves allegations of billions of dollars misappropriated from the Malaysian public funds.

Interference with local investigations

Over the course of more than a year, Malaysians have waited patiently for the investigations conducted locally to be concluded and for the outcome and findings thereof, only to helplessly witness oppressive measures obstructing due process of law taking place instead.

Officers tasked to look into the scandal, including those from the Attorney-General’s Chambers (AGC), the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC), and the Royal Malaysian Police Force (PDRM), were harassed, raided, detained and subjected to arbitrary administrative actions by the powers that be.