Friday 29 Mar 2024
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(Aug 6): Datuk Seri Najib Razak must explain why the special investigation team on 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) was disbanded, anti-graft movement, Centre to Combat against Corruption and Cronyism (C4), said today.

It also said Putrajaya must keep its hands off the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), whose officers were picked up for questioning over alleged leaks of investigation documents.

"Malaysians witnessed with disbelief how the Najib administration swiftly curtailed internal dissent, perceived sabotage and attempts to tear holes in his tattered government, following the 1MDB scandal that has rocked the country for months.

"C4 expresses deep concern over these events, and is outraged at the sudden death of the special task force formed to probe the RM2.6 billion, SRC International and related issues," said C4 executive director, Cynthia Gabriel.

"Najib must be held to account for these developments and convince Malaysians that he has not abused his position by allowing the heavy hand of the executive to thwart the ongoing investigations," she added.

Yesterday, MACC announced that the task force investigating 1MDB had been disbanded and that all the authorities involved - MACC, Bank Negara Malaysia, police and the Attorney-General's Chambers - would work separately under their respective jurisdictions on matters related to the debt-ridden fund.

The anti-graft body said its scope of investigations was focused on former 1MDB subsidiary SRC international Sdn Bhd, which had taken a RM4 billion loan from government pension fund, Retirement Fund Inc (KWAP).

Police, meanwhile, have launched its investigation into 1MDB over leaked official information on the 1MDB probe.

The special task force was first announced after The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported last month that some US$700 million (RM2.6 billion) had been transferred into Najib's personal accounts in AmBank.

MACC this week announced that the money was not from 1MDB but was from a Middle East donor, which it did not name.

It also said will question Najib on the donation.

The changes in the task force came following the sudden removal of Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail as the attorney-general, as well as a cabinet reshuffle that saw Najib sacking deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who has been critical of his handling of 1MDB.

Another vocal Umno minister, Datuk Seri Shafie Apadl, was also dropped.

Gabriel said there was a concentration of powers in the prime minister.

"We witnessed just how much power was concentrated in the Prime Minister’s office, having succeeded in shifting around key leaders of his administration - like a simple game of chess. It didn’t end there."

She said with the removal of the four MPs who formed part of Parliament's Public Accounts Committee (PAC), the investigation into 1MDB was now "stonewalled".

The top brass of the MACC have also been made to go on leave, while several of its senior officers involved in investigating SRC International have been questioned over alleged leaks of information on the 1MDB probe.

Gabriel called the actions "a desperate bid to bury the 1MDB scandal".

"Hands off the MACC, we say, as the actions of the police have serious repercussions on obstruction of duties that could hamper important investigations from progressing further.

"Instead of moving to win public confidence, the new cabinet had gone on to further issue threat after threat, on whistleblowers, media and critical voices; arresting task force members and law enforcement officials involved in the probe for allegedly leaking information is but a deviation to the core issues.

"C4 stands by the MACC during these dark times in our country’s history and hold faith that the commission will be steadfast and resilient in their mission.  We owe this to our nation, and to our future generations," she said, adding that now was the time for MACC to prove its mettle. – The Malaysian Insider

 

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