In urging Malaysians to show to the world their patience has been exhausted over the 1MDB issue, a PKR leader starts with the origin of the word “kleptocracy”.

“What does kleptocracy mean?

“Kleptocracy is a Greek word meaning ‘rule by thieves’,” said Dr Xavier Jeyakumar.

The PKR vice-president argued that those who claim the action initiated by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) is civil and not criminal are just fooling themselves.

The DOJ filed civil suits to seize assets which it claims was procured with funds misappropriated from 1MDB.

The forfeiture complaint, issued by a unit known as the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative, represents the largest such case brought by the DOJ.

Meanwhile, Jeyakumar also criticised the cabinet for remaining silent on the issue, accusing its members of being more concerned about protecting their positions than the nation.

“What does this speak of the moral standards of these individuals?

“Are they not proud of their qualifications from foreign universities, where they have been taught to think for themselves?

“These are hypocrites who care more for their privileges rather than speak out for truth and justice,” he said in a media statement.

Recounting the alleged abuses mentioned in the DOJ suits, Jeyakumar described them as a shame.

“Look at where the money was spent. We are talking billions here: lavish parties, gaming and gambling debts, a movie production, purchase of a jet, hotels, cars, paintings, luxury apartments. All this is the rakyat’s hard-earned money and also from government guaranteed savings,” he said.

'Keeping silent is not an option'

The PKR leader also launched a broadside on attorney-general Mohamad Apandi Ali and quoted the words of his US counterpart who once said, “When kleptocrats loot their nations, treasuries, steal natural resources and embezzle development aid, they condemn their nation's children to starvation and disease. In the face of this manifest injustice, asset recovery is a global imperative.”

Jeyakumar said the ball is now in the people’s court

“What is it you want to do or care to do? Keeping silent is not an option. Strength only comes when large numbers stand up for truth and justice.

“You might ask me how this impacts my daily life? Just imagine what RM500 million to RM1 billion can do for local communities by improving facilities and bringing about change in their daily lives. For example, public transport, sports facilities and helping the hard-core poor to be competitive.

“Imagine if we had spent this money on our people, we would have definitely seen improvement in their standards of living.

“Let us show the world that the people of Malaysia have had enough of lies from the (Malaysian) official one. He has to go, along with his members of cabinet,” he added.

The DOJ suits made 36 references to ‘Malaysian Official 1’. Though it did not name the person, opposition leaders and certain quarters claim it is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Najib has denied abusing public funds for personal gain and blamed such accusations on those conspiring to topple him from power.

The attorney-general has also cleared the prime minister of any wrongdoing.