KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 6 ― A former Umno minister said today that he fears for Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz amid rumours that the Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor may join the growing list of 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) investigators current being probed by the police.
Datuk Zaid Ibrahim accused the government of “doing everything in their power” to cover up alleged mismanagement and corruption by hauling up these investigators, and reminded the authorities, specifically the police and the Attorney-General, that it is an offence to obstruct public servants from carrying out their duties.
“If anyone, including the prime minister and/or the Attorney-General are involved in 'obstruction of a public servant in the discharge of his functions' then Section 186 of the Penal Code is relevant.
“I would like to advise the new AG that while supporting the prime minister is a wonderful thing, we have laws that everyone has to follow!” he said in a post on his blog.
So far, it is believed that nine have been hauled in the probe on the alleged leaks ― seven from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), one of whom is a prosecutor seconded from the Attorney-General's Chambers (AGC) ― as well as a former MACC advisory board member and an AGC finance and anti-money laundering secretariat member.
Talk is that Zeti may be called in for questioning as well but there has been no confirmation on the rumour so far.
“I am worried for our Central Bank Governor Zeti, that she will be humiliated like Gani Patail, unless she play ball,” Zaid said.
He was referring to Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail who was unexpectedly removed from the post of Attorney-General last week, triggering talk that he was done so because he was in the final stages of preparing charges against Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.
The former Umno law minister went on to say that the apparent crackdown has put the country's institutions in disarray, with many now afraid to speak up to defend the truth.
“We are where we are because many of us are scared to speak up and defend what is right. We think that so long as the transgressions do not affect us why should we get involved.
“Only when the whole system becomes rotten, and the police start behaving like the Gestapo then we realise our lives and our businesses are all affected,” he said.
As such, Zaid repeated his suggestion for a rally of 100,000 Malaysians, which he said is necessary for two reasons ― to show that Malaysians are not afraid to “save” the country, and that support for Najib is only skin-deep.
