KUALA LUMPUR – After congratulating the finance minister on RM15.4 billion recovered from the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal, Bersatu information chief Wan Saiful Wan Jan said the people want to know what happens to those who conspired in the crimes.
In a Facebook post today, Wan Saiful said at the same time, justice and the rule of law must be firmly and promptly upheld.
“The people want to know what happens to those who conspired in the 1MDB scandal. We must ensure such crimes are not repeated by anyone.
“The 1MDB scandal is a big black mark on our nation’s history. Kleptocratic crimes has caused our country to lose a lot of assets. We must take all necessary steps to ensure that we repatriate more of these assets to our people.”
Yesterday, Finance Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz said Malaysia had recovered about RM15.4 billion in cash and physical assets linked to the state investor.
He said the country was committed to securing the remaining assets, regardless of the coronavirus situation.
“The Malaysian government remains committed to undertaking a responsible and pragmatic approach to the repatriation process that benefits the country and people,” he said, adding that 1MDB debt servicing is part of the government’s projection under Budget 2021.
The recovery of 1MDB assets had started after Pakatan Harapan won the general election in May 2018. Efforts have been ongoing even after the Perikatan Nasional government took over late February last year.
Last July, former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak was found guilty of corruption and sentenced to 12 years in jail for seven charges linked to RM42 million in SRC International funds, a former subsidiary of the scandal-ridden sovereign wealth fund 1MDB.
He is also facing an ongoing 1MDB trial involving 25 charges and RM2.28 billion – four abuse of power charges and 21 money-laundering charges.
The hearing for the case is expected to resume February 8. Trial dates have been fixed for this case in February, and from April up until July.
Najib is also being tried with former 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy over the alleged tampering of a federal audit report on 1MDB. This trial is expected to continue in February, March and April. – The Vibes, January 23, 2021
