What is embarrassing is not the opposition walking out on the "Trump-like" Budget 2017 speech, but the ruling party remaining silent over Malaysia's soiled reputation as the target of the US' biggest kleptocracy case in its history.

Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang said Prime Minister Najib Razak and his Umno leaders' outcry over the opposition walkout last week paled in comparison to the damage the country was facing to its reputation over the growing 1MDB scandal.

"Umno leaders from Najib, (vice president) Hishammuddin Hussein to (Youth chief) Khairy Jamaluddin should realise that there is nothing more embarrassing, shameful, indecent and unprofessional than to lead Malaysia to a 'global kleptocracy'

"I am shocked that the prime minister and all the Umno and BN ministers are completely bereft of shame and outrage that Malaysia is regarded worldwide as a 'global kleptocracy', and they could accept such infamy and ignominy to the nation with such equanimity, passivity and peace of mind," said Lim in his speech at Gelang Patah DAP Deepavali celebrations yesterday.

The DAP parliamentary leader said he had never "felt so ashamed and outraged as a Malaysian in my 75 years" than when the US Department of Justice (DOJ) launched its lawsuit to forfeit over US$1 billion of 1MDB-linked assets in the US.

He said if Malaysia had been wronged, then leaders and institutions, beginning with Parliament, should "protest loud and clear for the whole world to hear" at the defamation of its good name.

The refusal of the speaker to allow the matter to be raised during last week's Parliament sitting was therefore shocking, said Lim.

He said he will persist to raise questions on the 1MDB scandal and the DOJ case in tomorrow's ministers' question time, and challenged the prime minister to use the opportunity to clear the country's name.

"If it is rejected by the speaker for the third time, Malaysians can conclude that they cannot depend on the present Parliament to clear the nation of the infamy of a global kleptocracy," said Lim.

Darkness over light hope

In July, the US launched what it touts to be its largest action ever brought under its Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative (Kari).

Through a series of civil forfeiture suits, it seeks to seize over US$1 billion worth of assets that were supposedly the result of criminal proceeds from the alleged embezzlement of over US$3.5 billion from 1MDB.

The court documents make repeated references to a Malaysian Official 1, which minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan eventually publicly admitted referred to Najib.

Najib has denied taking funds for personal gain, and the attorney-general had cleared him of all wrongdoing in the receipt of RM2.6 billion in his personal accounts.

Meanwhile, Lim said the coming Hindu celebration of Deepavali this weekend gives the people continued hope that justice will eventually prevail.

"Deepavali celebrates the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, right over wrong, knowledge over ignorance and hope over despair.

"It is a reaffirmation of the Hindu belief that good will ultimately triumph over evil.

"However, there are times when darkness seem to wipe out the light, when the battle of good over evil seems difficult and even impossible.

"These are such times in Malaysia, when it is even more important to have faith, courage and stamina to soldier on to ensure the eventual victory of light over darkness and good over evil," said the DAP veteran.