Thursday 28 Mar 2024
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This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily on February 24, 2020

BANGKOK: A banned Thai opposition party yesterday accused the former military junta of helping cover up Malaysia’s multi-billion US dollar 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, urging Thais to demand the truth ahead of a censure debate against Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha.

The Future Forward Party, the third-largest party in Parliament, was dissolved last Friday by Thailand’s Constitutional Court over a loan it took from its billionaire founder.

The dissolution was decried by democracy advocates as a way to weaken opposition to the government of Prayuth, who first came to power in a 2014 military coup and led a military junta until after elections last year that his pro-army party won.

Future Forward’s spokeswoman, Pannika Wanich, told reporters at a news conference yesterday that the junta had worked with Malaysia’s former government to arrest a whistleblower in the 1MDB case in 2015 and had allowed financial criminals to operate in Thailand, risking the country’s international ties.

“The junta government yearned for international acceptance after the coup ... and formed a dark alliance with Malaysia,” Pannika said.

“The only person who can issue these orders is Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha,” Pannika said.

Pannika cited irregularities surrounding Thailand’s arrest and the subsequent confession of Xavier Justo, the Swiss national who was arrested in Thailand in 2015 and the first whistleblower in the 1MDB affair.

The government also harboured Malaysian financier Low Taek Jho, known as Jho Low, allowing him to enter the country at least five times between October 2016 and May 2018, despite Jho Low having an Interpol red notice from Singapore, she said.

Jho Low has been charged in Malaysia and the US over the alleged theft of US$4.5 billion from 1MDB, set up by former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak with the help of Jho Low, to promote economic development.

At least six countries, including the US, have launched money-laundering, financial mismanagement and criminal probes into 1MDB dealings.

Jho Low has denied any wrongdoing. His whereabouts are unknown.

The Future Forward Party said it would have opened an investigation on corruption and money laundering related to the 1MDB case if it were in power.

“If we were in government, we would investigate. We want a government that is a responsible neighbour and acts with dignity. Since we have been dissolved, we can’t, but the Thai public can demand the truth,” Pannika said.

A spokesman for Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment. — Reuters

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