Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(May 22): With Umno appearing divided over how to handle 1Malaysia Development Bhd's (1MDB) scandals, the entire cabinet should resign if the state investment firm's officials are not held to account for the RM42 billion debt, DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said today.

All ministers should step down on principle of good governance and accountability, the Gelang Patah MP said, adding that even Umno itself was now divided over how to handle the debt-ridden fund amid sinking public confidence towards the government.

"The cabinet must insist that all those responsible for the RM42 billion 1MDB scandal must face the consequences, not just the 1MDB Board, but also Najib – failing which the entire cabinet should resign collectively on an important principle of good governance and accountability," he said in a statement today.

Lim said Umno appeared divided over 1MDB now, with the leaked video of Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin calling for the sacking of 1MDB's entire board now making the rounds.

Muhyiddin has since defended his remarks, saying it was just advice given to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, who is also finance minister and chairman of 1MDB's advisory board.

Calling Muhyiddin's remarks "the last straw to break the camel's back", Lim said this latest development was in contrast to the show of unity Umno Supreme Council members had given Najib nearly two weeks ago, when the party president said his relationship with Muhyiddin was stronger than ever.

The party supreme council had also backed Najib's call to let independent audits on 1MDB be completed first.

The probes are being conducted separately by the auditor-general and also Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and Najib has urged critics to wait for the findings.

Lim also highlighted the taking of sides by certain Umno figures for and against criticism of 1MDB.

He noted remarks by Umno Cheras division chief, Syed Ali Alhabshee which were supportive of Muhyiddin's call to sack the 1MDB board, while Special Affairs Department (Jasa) chief Dr Puad Zakarshi's criticised the deputy prime minister today.

"Has the war in Umno between the Najib and Muhyiddin factions broken out in the open, with the Umno Cheras division chief Syed Ali Alhabshee supporting Muhyiddin that the entire 1MDB  board members be given the boot and allow the police to probe the company unhindered, while the former Deputy Education Minister and currently the Special Affairs Department (Jasa) director-General, Mohd Puad Zarkashi on the other hand slamming his ex-boss Muhyiddin as shirking his duties as Education Minister and alleging that the Deputy Prime Minister was too 'lazy' to check on the deplorable condition of some of the schools in the country?

"As Umno’s propagandist, nobody would believe that Puad would open fire on the deputy prime minister-cum-education minister without the ‘green light’ from the prime minister," Lim said.

Yesterday, Lim dared Muhyiddin to tell Najib to resign after the video of Muhyiddin's comments against 1MDB during a closed-door session with Umno members was leaked online, and after he defended his remarks to reporters. – The Malaysian Insider

 

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