KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 5 — Datuk Seri Nazir Razak today described Bank Negara Governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz as an icon in the international finance arena, amid continuing speculation that the latter is under pressure to step down.
The prime minister’s brother also put Zeti on par with International Monetary Fund managing director Christine Lagarde.
“My moment with 2 icons of global finance,” the CIMB Group chairman wrote as a caption of his photo with the two posted on Instagram.
Rumours are continuing that Zeti is being pressed to relinquish her position amid an apparent crackdown over the leak of information related to a special taskforce investigating 1 Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
Zeti’s Bank Negara is one of four agencies in the taskforce.
Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail was last week removed as Attorney-General, bringing an end to his participation on the same taskforce.
Police previously arrested a former Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) adviser and an officer from the Attorney-General’s Chamber (AGC) over an alleged conspiracy to topple Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak via links to 1MDB.
Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar last week denied rumours that Zeti was under investigation, but the denial failed to quell the chatter.
It is unclear where the rumours originated, but international news agency Reuters said the rumours of Zeti’s resignation had been circulating in local media and financial markets.
