KUALA LUMPUR – Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has revealed that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob asked him what could be done with the information from the Pandora Papers exposé.
In an interview with ABC Radio National Australia today, the opposition chief said he met Ismail Sabri yesterday, and the latter queried him on the matter.
“I raised the issue, but the speaker refused to allow it to be debated. The PM, however, met me yesterday and asked what else could be done.
“I said you must conduct a full investigation. It is not new. In 2012, I brought up the Global Financial Integrity report, then there were the Panama Papers in 2015, but then, I was in prison.
“Enforcement agencies, including the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, cannot say this is something new, or we are looking into it. They must conduct a full investigation.”
The Port Dickson MP said although it is not illegal to have offshore accounts, public officials and ministers with millions of dollars stacked in such firms must be held accountable and provide an explanation.
This is ridiculous. The country is seeing so much poverty, and suddenly, we have these people making billions from the public’s purse.”
The Pandora Papers obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists revealed financial information on 35 current and former world leaders, and over 330 politicians and public officials in 91 countries and territories.
Malaysiakini reported that among the Malaysians listed are former finance minister Tun Daim Zainuddin, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz, Umno president Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Selayang MP William Leong.
On Tuesday, Anwar filed a motion to debate the Pandora Papers issue in Parliament.
In a statement, he said the leaked documents involve some of the world’s wealthiest people.
Anwar’s request was dismissed by Speaker Datuk Azhar Azizan Harun, who said the RM900 billion outflow revealed in the exposé is “not urgent”.
On the possibility him becoming prime minister, Anwar said in jest “Que sera sera”, hinting that it is unlikely to happen.
“When you start digging up cases like the Pandora Papers, you make it more challenging.
“The whole power apparatus, the political elite, the conglomerates, the media and others will gun you down.
I will just do my task. If we continue to be the opposition, then so be it. If I get to be PM, then I say, ‘Thank God Almighty, Alhamdulillah’!”
He also commented on Australia’s involvement in the Aukus security deal with the United Kingdom and the United States, covering artificial intelligence and other technologies, in a bid to counter China.
Australia must explain why it sides with the US over China, he said.
Canberra is looking to purchase nuclear-powered submarines, something that countries including Malaysia are worried about given their position on non-proliferation.
“It is an arrangement deemed to be provocative,” said Anwar.
“An engagement (between Australia and countries with diplomatic ties) is important.
“This statement (using nuclear-powered, and not nuclear-armed, submarines) on non-proliferation is indeed reassuring, but Australians must make additional effort to reach out to their friends and explain their stance because there are legitimate concerns.
“If Australia thinks they have a compelling case to defend themselves, then I think they must continue to be aggressive in their diplomatic efforts in the region.” – The Vibes, October 8, 2021
