Was “the power of 1MDB scandal” at play when in Parliament yesterday former Second Finance Minister Husni transformed from a Najib critic on 1MDB to a Najib sycophant, talking about Najib’s legacy of “zero corruption” when everybody knows it is “global kleptocracy”?

Was the “Power of the 1MDB scandal” at play in Parliament yesterday when former Second Finance Minister, Datuk Seri Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah transformed from a Najib critic on 1MDB to a Najib sycophant, talking about Najib’s legacy of “zero corruption” when everybody knows it is “global kleptocracy”?

Before further commentary on Husni’s speech in Parliament yesterday, Husni should clarify what he said a year ago, whether they were the truth and still relevant, for instance,

  1. That handling 1MDB had made him ill, that he was under heavy stress for months while trying to resolve the controversy and suffered high blood pressure; that a question from a senior official of Bank Negara that “Everyone knows that you are not involved in 1MDB. Why are you feeling stressed over the 1MDB issue?” finally prompted his decision to resign from the Cabinet; and that after his resignation, he felt relieved as “1MDB no longer disturbs my mind and heart”.
  2. Whether he stood by his speech on the 2017 Budget in Parliament in October 2016 about worsening corruption and loss of competitiveness in Malaysia, citing development of South Korea against Malaysia as an example. Malaysia’s gross domestic product per capital was higher in 1980: USD1,770 in Malaysia while USD1,711 in South Korea. In 1990, South Korea’s GDP per capita was USD6,642 and Malaysia was USD2,549. South Korea’s GDP per capita had gone up to USD27,000, which was why it was “crucial to lead the country with dignity, integrity and good governance” and stop “patronage politics”.
  3. Whether he stood his speech in Parliament during the 2017 Budget debate, questioning the government’s motive in setting up 1MDD which he stated had seen a lot of misappropriation with no action taken; why USD4 billion was invested in Aabar Investments PJS Ltd, which was not owned by IPIC; why no legal action was taken against the management of 1MDB for investing in the wrong places; the reasons for the Retirement Fund Incorporated (KWAP) decision to loan a lump sum of RM4 billion to SRC International, a former subsidiary of 1MDB; and the reason behind limited tenders in government procurements without the knowledge of the tender committee.

After his speech in October 2016, the then Inspector-General of Police, Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar announced police investigation on Husni alleging that Husni had tried to incite the people into believing that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had committed an offence, even though investigations into 1MDB had not been completed.

What is the outcome of the police investigations and whether it has any bearing on Husni’s speech in Parliament yesterday?

Lim Kit Siang DAP Parliamentary Leader & MP for Gelang Patah