This article first appeared in Forum, The Edge Malaysia Weekly, on February 1 - 7, 2016.
RIGHT after Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali’s decision to close the investigation into the RM2.6 billion found in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal accounts, Najib said he was relieved with the announcement and that the matter has been comprehensively put to rest. Surely, his supporters were equally relieved.
According to Apandi, Najib was cleared of any criminal wrongdoing after close to six months of investigation, stating that it was a personal donation from the Saudi Arabian royal family and that the prime minister had returned US$620 million, out of the US$681 million given.
But this does not mean that the people at large share the same feeling. The AG’s decision was greeted with scepticism, mainly because of the way the investigation was done. It appears now that the closure of the case seems to have only prolonged the issue.
In this context, Bersih — the coalition for clean and fair elections — has come up with a statement that contains a list of questions. What happened to the balance of US$61 million? Why was former AG Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail sacked? Why was former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin sacked? Why were two Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) officers transferred? Why did Najib not sue The Wall Street Journal (WSJ)?
The MACC said in a statement that it had decided to refer AG’s decision to its Operations Oversight Panel and will also establish another panel. The objective is to acquire the panels’ opinions on how to deal with cases that the AG decides not to prosecute.
The AG, on the other hand, said those unhappy with the decision can seek the Federal Court’s interpretation. Apandi said any body formed to question any decision of the AG would be against Article 145 (3) of the Federal Constitution. Article 145 gives the AG, who is also the public prosecutor, the sole discretion to institute, continue or discontinue any criminal proceedings against any accused person.
At the same time, we have heard conflicting views from Saudi Arabia’s side. According to WSJ, the kingdom’s finance and foreign affairs ministries have declined to comment on Apandi’s statement, but said that they have no information about such a donation.
On another note, the BBC quoted an unnamed source claiming that the money came from the late King Abdullah’s personal cash and was meant to help Barisan Nasional win the 2013 general election and to address the Saudis’ concerns over the rising power of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they consider a terrorist organisation.
To me, the Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt by Islamic scholar Hassan al-Banna (the grandfather of Swiss academic, philosopher and writer Tariq Ramadan), is not a bad or a terrorist organisation. It is an Islamic movement whose basic principle is that Islam is a complete way of life. Its thrust of activities are preaching and education. Sometimes, it participates in politics.
Over the years, it has established chapters in many Arab countries and has its own international-level leadership. Its leaders have published numerous books on various themes. One of its former leaders, Syed Qutb, wrote a very popular commentary of the Quran, titled Under the Shade of the Quran.
Today, the Muslim Brotherhood is part of a larger global Islamic movement, which in different countries are called different names. The Islamic movements from the other countries may not be an extension of the Muslim Brotherhood, but they may share the same idealism, for example, the concept of “Muslim Democrat” and “Islam is a blessing to all”.
So, what is the relationship between the RM2.6 billion and the Muslim Brotherhood? Is it because there are people out there who are writing a new political story, that there are people in the opposition who are supporters of, or are influenced by, the Muslim Brotherhood? Surely Pas president Datuk Seri Hadi Awang, who now seems to be close with Najib, is not one of them?
This leaves only Islamic organisations like Abim and Ikram which, according to the storytellers, are supporters or are closely associated with opposition parties PKR and Amanah. Or myself, who is now chief secretary of Pakatan Harapan, the new opposition coalition, because I have, since my days in ruling party Umno, openly said that I am a supporter of the Muslim Brotherhood.
Perhaps, the storytellers are writing a new political script for the country by blaming the Muslim Brotherhood.
Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah is chief secretary of Pakatan Harapan and former deputy minister of higher education. He is active on twitter: @saifuddinabd
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