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This article first appeared in The Edge Malaysia Weekly on August 20, 2018 - August 26, 2018

WE cannot succeed if we are not clean. We have to be efficient in order to become good at what we do, and we have to be trustworthy and never take what doesn’t belong to you. The nation needs to have these values in order to become successful … There is no nation that is absolutely free from corruption. There would be corruption, but perhaps only a minority is corrupt. But when this becomes part of the culture, then … there is no remedy.” – Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Aug 15

 

 

I am not too inclined towards kebumiputeraan … We should place our focus on Malaysia … If I say eradicating poverty – although bumiputera is not mentioned here – if the policy really works, it will help a large number of bumiputera, rather than other races … As we promote meritocracy, we should give space so that Malays in villages and natives in rural areas will also be lifted. Then, they will be able to compete in a meritocracy.” — PKR president-elect Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Aug 13

 

     

If a PM instructs you to kill someone, are you going to kill that person? If you were asked to cover up a crime, that would not be right … What is a crime is still a crime even though it was instructed by the top leadership … If you were asked to go and campaign for the party, you must say no … Of course, you will punished, but if all of you stand together to say no, who can they punish?” — Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Aug 15

 

 

I was not aware of these purchases. This was done without my knowledge. I would never authorise 1MDB funds to be used for any of these items. I’ve been in government so long, I know what’s right and what’s wrong.” — Former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, June 20

 

 

If you want to take over the government, you got to take along the debts with it.” — Former deputy finance minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan (BN-Pontian), Aug 8

 

 

The (RM19.24 billion GST) refund arrears were caused by weakness in government cash flow due to lack of fiscal discipline, widespread wastage and large increase in debts … What was done by the past administration was account falsification and misappropriation of tax refund arrears for other uses or to close the deficit to show that they had a surplus.” — Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng, Aug 13

 

 

If there is wrongdoing [at 1MDB], then they should charge, that’s all. If the prime minister wants to do that, I can’t be angry at that. If we want to object, we have to object constructively.” — Datuk Seri Nazri Abdul Aziz (BN-Padang Renggas), Aug 14

 

 

This is the biggest seizure in Malaysian history … We don’t know if the money is from Umno. We will have to probe. No one has claimed it as their money … We will also call alleged gift givers for a statement to be recorded.” — Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department director Datuk Seri Amar Singh Ishar Singh, June 27

 

 

The Malaysian people need an independent media, judiciary and police force, and I am grateful this is being recognised in the many structural changes we presently see underway.” —  Sarawak Report founder Clare Rewcastle-Brown, July 3

 

 

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