As Parliament gears up for Budget 2016, Kit Siang asks priority for 1MDB debate

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 7 — DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang urged today the Cabinet to set aside the first two days of the next Parliamentary session to debate the Conference of Malay Rulers’ call for a thorough and transparent investigation into the ongoing controversies involving 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB).

He said that it was crucial to discuss the rulers’ statement in Parliament as it addresses three key issues affecting the country.

“Parliament should set aside the first two days of its Budget session on October 19 and 20 to debate the historic statement of the pre-council meeting of the 239th Conference of Rulers as it encapsulated  the three major concerns of all thinking and patriotic Malaysians — the RM50 billion 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, the parlous state of the rule of law and the frayed and fragile state of national unity in the country,” Lim said in a statement today.

The DAP parliamentary leader said the motion could be proposed by a minister, Opposition Leader Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail or Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak personally.

The rulers’ statement will act as a litmus test as to whether or not prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is able to handle the three key issues highlighted in the rulers’ statement, the Gelang Patah MP said.

He pointed out that local investigations into the state investment firm seemed to have hit a wall, adding that it would be a “sovereign shame” if Malaysia had to rely on countries like the United States, Switzerland and Hong Kong to probe 1MDB.

“Although the 1MDB scandal has mushroomed from a national into an international scandal, local investigations seemed to have run aground and reached a dead end.

“Nobody can now answer for sure who in the country is investigating the 1MDB scandal,” he said.

The Conference of Malay Rulers yesterday directed Putrajaya to ensure that 1MDB is thoroughly investigated and for those found guilty of wrongdoing to be punished.

In a statement issued by the Keeper of the Rulers’ Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, the sultans also said that investigations must be made public in order to show that nothing was being hidden in the probe on the state-owned investment firm.

This is the first time the Conference of Malay Rulers has openly commented on the 1MDB controversy that has gained international attention.