Most Read
Most Commented
mk-logo
News
Kit Siang proposes Dr M-led RCI on 1MDB
Published:  Mar 4, 2018 6:00 PM
Updated: 10:06 AM

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang has proposed a royal commission of inquiry led by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad to get to the bottom of the 1MDB scandal.

Lim said this would be an opportunity for Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to prove everything about 1MDB was above board, as the government has repeatedly claimed.

"To demonstrate to Malaysians and the world that the Malaysian prime minister has nothing to hide, that he is above board and beyond reproach in the morass of the 1MDB international money-laundering scandal, which had been described by the US attorney-general as the world’s ‘worst kleptocracy’, and that he is open to investigation by anyone...

"...Let him announce that the RCI into the 1MDB scandal would be headed by his new nemesis Mahathir, and comprising commissioners half of which would be nominated by Harapan," he said in a statement today.

Lim (photo) urged for the announcement should be made during the King’s government policy speech at the official opening of Parliament tomorrow.

Conventionally, the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong's speech is prepared by the government.

"Parliament should stop being the Rip Van Winkle of world parliaments, sleeping while the whole world is awake to the global kleptocracy of the 1MDB scandal.

"What better way to cleanse and purge Malaysia of the ignominy, infamy and iniquity of the 1MDB scandal than an RCI into the 1MDB scandal headed by Mahathir?" he said.

Lim pointed to a series of damaging news reports internationally on the scandal, including the seizure of the superyacht Equanimity in Indonesia last week, and the seizure of a Bombardier jet in Singapore in February.

All the seized assets were believed to have been acquired using misappropriated 1MDB funds that were laundered through the US financial system.

The DOJ believes that at least US$4.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB, and is seeking to seize US$1.7 billion in assets allegedly acquired using the stolen funds.

ADS