Will Hadi support the return to the people of Malaysia the billions of ringgit worth of jewelleries, art pieces and luxury properties misappropriated by Jho Low from 1MDB and gifted to Leonardo DiCaprio, Miranda Kerr, “wife of MO1” and others?

DAP National Publicity Secretary and MP for PJ Utara, Tony Pua; DAP Assistant National Publicity Secretary and MP for Bukit Bendera Zairil Khir Johari; PKR Secretary-General Datuk Saifuddin Nasution Ismail; Faiz Fadzil, AMANAH Deputy Youth Chief; Yaakob Osman, Penang Pribumi Bersatu Information Chief and DAP MP for Batu Kawan Kasthuri Patto are to be congratulated for a successful kick-off of the Pakatan Harapan nation-wide tour and campaign to explain the intricacies and complexities of the international multi-billion dollar 1MDB money-laundering scandal to Malaysians in the rural areas.

As the six Pakatan Harapan leaders told the inaugural “Sayangi Malaysia, Hapuskan Kleptokrasi” (Love Malaysia, Destroy Kleptocracy) 1MDB ceramah in Penaga, Penang last night, the expensive jewelleries, art pieces, even luxury properties which included Jho Low’s US$250 million (approximately RM1.069 billion) mega yacht – the 3,000-tonnes 54th largest yacht in existence which can carry 28 crew members and 18 guests – will all be sold and the money returned to Malaysians if Pakatan Harapan takes control of the government in the coming general election.

As Faiz Fadzil specifically mentioned, these properties include the much-talked-about US$27.3 million (RM117 million) 22-carat rare pink diamond set in a necklace, which the US Department of Justice (DoJ) alleged was purchased with stolen 1MDB money for the wife of "Malaysian Official 1" (MO1).

As Faiz said last night: "Her necklace, we will auction and sell it off and return the proceeds to the people.

"If we can recover the money, we can use it for the people. The pink diamond was bought with our money.”

There is however a nagging question as a result of the recent statements by PAS President, Datuk Seri Hadi Awang – an Open Letter to All Political Parties on Hari Raya Aidilfitri challenging the US DOJ kleptocratic lawsuits to forfeit 1MDB-linked assets as “foreign interference” and his latest statement two days ago defending the 1MDB scandal claiming that it was a consequence of the Barisan Nasional’s motto of “leadership by example” over the years, a most shocking and political gymnastics as if two wrongs can make a right.

The nagging question is whether Hadi will support the return to the people of Malaysia the billions of ringgit worth of jewelleries, art pieces and luxury properties misappropriated by Jho Low from 1MDB and gifted to Leonardo DiCaprio, Miranda Kerr, “wife of MO1” and others?

Let us see whether the PAS President is prepared to speak up on this important issue.

American actor Leonardo DiCaprio and Australian supermodel Miranda Kerr have handed over their multi-million US dollar gifts from Jho Low which were misappropriated from 1MDB funds to the US Department of Justice (DOJ).

Representatives of Leonardo Di Caprio announced three weeks ago that the American actor had turned over an Oscar won by Marlon Brando to US investigators probing money laundering by 1MDB as well as initiated the return of other, unidentified items that the actor said he accepted as gifts for a charity auction and which originated from the international 1MDB money-laundering scam.

In July last year, Hollywood production company Red Granite was accused by US DOJ civil lawsuit of using US$100 million diverted from the 1MDB fund to finance DiCaprio's 2013 film "The Wolf of Wall Street," in which he starred.

DiCaprio said in October he was cooperating with the probe and would return any gifts or donations if they were found to have come from questionable sources.

In a new filing on 15th June 2017, the US DOJ moved to seize artwork by Picasso and Basquiat that it said had been purchased with laundered Malaysian money and gifted to DiCaprio by associates of Red Granite.

The latest DOJ filing also sought to seize the assets of two other Red Granite produced films which US investigators alleged were financed by money from the 1MDB fund - the 2014 comedy "Dumb and Dumber To" starring Jim Carrey, and 2015 comedy "Daddy's Home" starring Will Ferrell.

As for Melinda Kerr, it was reported more than a week ago that she ha handed over to the US DOJ investigators the gifts given to her by Jho Low which were misappropriated from 1MDB funds, which included an 11.72 carat heart-shaped diamond valued at US$1.29 million and a US$3.8 million 8.88 carat diamond pendant.

An UMNO government propaganda operative had said that there was no need for Miranda Kerr to return any jewellery to the US DOJ investigators, as Kerr should have returned the jewellery to Jho Low instead.

Does Hadi agree with this UMNO government operative and what is his stand on the swathes of luxury properties including a mega yacht, high-end real estates including hotels and condominiums, expensive jewelleries and art pieces bought from stolen 1MDB funds?

The Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, clearly does not agree with any forfeiture, sale and return of the proceeds to the people of Malaysia.

Does Hadi agree with Najib? What is Hadi’s stand on this issue?