Why brief Umno reps on 1MDB but not Parliament? Kit Siang asks Najib

KUALA LUMPUR, June 14 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak must explain why he is willing to brief Umno division representatives on the controversy surrounding the debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) but not Parliament, DAP’s Lim Kit Siang said today.

In a statement, Lim pointed out that as PM and Finance Minister, Najib is the “final approving authority” for all of 1MDB’s decisions, and that he should be prepared to face the legal and political consequences for negligence, discrepancy or wrongdoings.

“The question that immediately comes to mind is why Najib, who is the final approving authority for all 1MDB decisions, in law and in fact, prepared to brief Umno division representatives but not Parliament on the 1MDB controversy?” the Gelang Patah MP asked.

According to a report by The Star, Najib is reportedly set to brief Umno division representatives today on the controversy surrounding 1MDB.

A source familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Umno division information chiefs would be attending the closed-door session that would take place at the Putra World Trade Centre later today.

The report also stated that Najib is expected to also brief Umno representatives on a number of other issues.

“Did Najib give a full report to the Cabinet on all his 1MDB dealings in the past six years as the final approving authority for 1MDB deals, transactions and investments and have all Cabinet Ministers understood how 1MDB could pile up RM42 billion debts in six years and endorsed all the 1MDB decisions taken by Najib as the final approving authority for all these transactions?” Lim added.

The DAP leader also demanded all Cabinet ministers state whether they have accepted the “collective responsibility” over 1MDB, and are prepared to put their political careers on the line by continuing to support Najib.

“Although the Prime Minister had told his Ministers at the May 29 Cabinet meeting to resign if they do not support him on the 1MDB issue, the pertinent question is whether all Ministers have accepted the collective responsibility for the 1MDB scandal ‘to sink or swim’ with Najib on the issue?” he said.

1MDB, a brainchild of Najib, is currently the subject of investigations by the Auditor General’s Department and Parliament’s Public Accounts Committee over its finances and a debt pile that has reportedly hit RM42 billion, and most recently cash flow problems that saw it struggle to meet a RM2 billion loan payment.