KUALA LUMPUR, July 31 — Selangor Mentri Besar Azmin Ali said today that he had told David Cameron during the UK prime minister’s visit to Malaysia that the most pressing issue in the country was the lack of transparency in managing public funds, amid the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.
Azmin said he had also informed Cameron about the health problems of PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, who is in prison on a sodomy conviction.
“I told Prime Minister Cameron that apart from issues of corruption at high places, there was also the linkage with questions of money laundering, a problem which the United Kingdom as well as other EU countries are also battling,” Azmin said in a statement.
“In view of the various issues surrounding the use of billions of ringgit of the state coffers, there has been a startling lack of transparency, and the people are demanding answers to the allegations of financial improprieties raised,” the PKR deputy president added, without elaborating.
Azmin said Cameron told him that he will bring up such matters to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak when they meet later.
Cameron, who is on a Southeast Asia tour to boost trade, has faced criticism over his visit to Malaysia amid corruption allegations involving the state-owned 1MDB and Najib.
