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1MDB: 'The more you talk, the more people are fed up', Arul Kanda told
Published:  Apr 25, 2018 9:58 AM
Updated: 4:26 AM

Arul Kanda Kandasamy may have made a good showing with his recent media appearances to address concerns over the 1MDB scandal, however, the 1MDB chief executive officer was warned that the more he talked, the more fed up people will become.

In fact, it would take more than "two hours of explanation" to satisfy the Malaysian public, Amanah leader Hanipa Maidin said.

"In the name of freedom of speech, we respect your opinion, but let me remind you the more you talk, the more people are getting fed up with those linked to 1MDB.

"Don't think we are saints (orang-orang suci) that can be easily satisfied after just two hours of listening to your explanation," the incumbent Sepang MP said in a message to Malaysiakini.

Arul Kanda had been on a roadshow for the past two months to explain issues surrounding the 1MDB, in the lead-up to the 14th general election.

Hanipa's statement came after Arul Kanda reportedly questioned the lack of apologies forthcoming from critics, including former minister Rafidah Aziz, following the Indonesian court's finding that the country's police seizure of the 1MDB-linked superyacht, Equanimity was invalid.

To this, Hanipa took to defending Rafidah as he said the court ruling alone does not warrant an apology.

"Arul Kanda's justification for the apology was based on the court's finding the seizure of the yacht was unlawful. Good try, but poor delivery, Arul Kanda. I agree fully with Rafidah in that, what is there to apologise for?

"Apologise for using public funds linked to 1MDB for the purchase of a luxury superyacht like the Equanimity that is linked to Jho Low, who was never charged in court as he was nowhere to be found, but was seen photographed with Malaysian Official 1 (MO1)?" Hanipa asked.

Rafidah had yesterday fired back at Arul Kanda, questioning the need for an apology when she was merely stating facts.

She said her comments on the matter concerned the Malaysian authorities' inability to track the yacht or seize it when the Indonesians could.

The Indonesian police had seized the Equanimity off the coast of Bali on Feb 28 in a joint operation with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

The yacht's registered owner Equanimity (Cayman) Ltd challenged the legality of the seizure, resulting in the April 17 Indonesian court verdict in its favour.

In its ruling, the court found that the seizure of Equanimity did not follow the procedures laid out by its laws on mutual legal assistance and that the FBI should have requested Indonesia’s assistance via the Ministry of Law and Human Rights instead of the Indonesian police.

It then ordered the police to return Equanimity to its claimant Equanimity Ltd.

The superyacht is one of several assets that the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is seeking to seize as part of its 1MDB-related civil forfeiture suits.

The DOJ claimed that Low had used US$250 million allegedly misappropriated by 1MDB to purchase the vessel.

1MDB has denied that any of its funds are missing.

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