All told to shut up till probe over
Published on: Tuesday, July 28, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: All Malaysians, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, should wait for the outcome of the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) probe, before making comments that may be detrimental to the government, the Prime Miinister's Office said.In a media statement issued Monday, it said:"All quarters, more so members of the administration, including Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, should be patient until the investigations are completed."Investigations are ongoing and we should give space to those involved to carry out their tasks," said the statement, issued ostensibly in response to comments made by Muhyiddin on Sunday.
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It said the government has taken appropriate action to investigate allegations by various parties about 1MDB, including a Cabinet directive for the Auditor-General and the Public Accounts Committee to probe the issue. The statement added that a "fact sheet" document on 1MDB has also been previously distributed among Cabinet members.It said former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad's constant allegations that 1MDB had lost RM42 billion despite the government's explanations had also contributed to negative public perception.Muhyiddin had, at the closing ceremony of the Umno Cheras division meeting on Sunday night, voiced his opinion about the suspension of The Edge publications over the 1MDB controversy."If The Edge's reporting on 1MDB cannot be trusted, please tell me what is the truth?" Muhyiddin was quoted as saying. He said while it is claimed that The Edge's reports are untrue, no one has yet pointed out which points therein are not true.
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"You can't blame people who are thirsty for the truth. When asked which parts were doctored and not true, they themselves are not sure," he said. He added that instead of explaining the facts on 1MDB, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Abdul Razak, who is its advisory board chairman, had merely asked people to await the outcome of the audit.He also shared that he had advised Najib to step down as the advisory board chairman to avoid perception that he was also involved as well, but his advice has fallen on deaf ears.
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Muhyiddin said he had also urged Najib to remove the 1MDB board of directors, but again his advice was not heeded."If I have a company and it is in a crisis like this, I would remove and sack them too. I have no malicious intention. All I wanted to do was just advise and give help," Muhyiddin said. He had earlier said that if the general elections are conducted tomorrow, the Barisan Nasional (BN) will lose. Muhyiddin said he had raised the 1MDB issue at the Supreme Council meeting and also the weekly Cabinet meetings. "I have a responsibility as deputy prime minister. I have at the Cabinet meetings every week stressed there must be a solution to this problem."If this is not settled it will be a burden. If there is no 1MDB there would be no problem" he said.Muhyiddin said he had been criticised by the public for being silent on the 1MDB issue but added it was not an easy matter to explain Muhyiddin said he did not object if the Auditor-General's interim report on 1MDB was made public.Meanwhile, a pro-Umno blog MyKMU.net called on Muhyiddin to quit if he cannot be a loyal deputy to Najib. It also chided him for openly expressing his lack of confidence in Umno and BN winning the general elections due to the people being unhappy about the state of the economy, the cost of living and the implementation of the Goods and Services Tax.The Wall Street Journal's (WSJ) accusation that billions of ringgit was transferred from state-owned funds into the personal accounts of Najib is a serious matter that needs explaining, Muhyiddin had said.He said the issue had caused some worry as it does not involve a small amount but millions of (US) dollars."When the news first came out, I texted the prime minister, saying: 'Sir, this was something serious that you have to deny'. He replied, saying thanks and told me he had already done so."Although there was a denial, it was from the Prime Minister's Department. I told him again that he had to be the one to do it as the allegation was made against him and then only there was denial," he said.Earlier this month, WSJ and whistleblower website Sarawak Report made the revelation that up to US$700 million (RM2.67 billion) was allegedly transferred from state-owned funds to two bank accounts under Najib's name with AmBank in early 2013.The prime minister, however, has denied ever taking any funds from 1MDB for "personal gain" but has not commented directly on the fund transfers. His accounts that allegedly received the funds have since been closed.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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