WHY? Malaysians following the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Bank Negara Malaysia’s (BNM) forex losses must keep this three-letter word as a reference throughout the inquiry and when the decision is pronounced. 

Why did BNM assistant governor Abdul Murad Khalid, after decades of silence, suddenly decide to go public with his version of the central bank’s losses? And why did he choose to go to the mouthpiece of the government to do that?

The central bank is said to have lost US$10 billion at the time, or about RM31 billion then and RM43 billion now. BNM governor Jaffar Hussein and assistant governor Nor Mohamed Yakcop quit in 1994 over the losses.

And should much weight be given to what Murad has to say, given his track record of making explosive declarations when under pressure from the government of the day?

Recall his revelation of master accounts said to be holding billions of ringgit for sacked deputy prime minister Anwar Ibrahim. Did anything come of that disclosure? Zilch.

Be certain that the government of the day will trot out individuals with the sole aim of connecting the dots and nailing Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Anwar and others who have switched political sides over the years 

Why go after them now? Is it because they have become more than just thorns in the side of the Najib government? Is it because these two have become allies and are getting popular with the people ahead of the next general elections?

Do their accusations sting and make sense to the people? Is this why there is a need to bring them down in the eyes of the people by going all that way back in time? Didn’t the opposition ask then for an RCI for this and was ignored?

Malaysians must ask questions every time someone comes out of the woodwork to make some damning allegation at the RCI. Why? Because the version of events is not being challenged by defence lawyers.

What happens at the RCI is for all and sundry to hear and judge, and the basis for the panel’s report and recommendations to the King, and effectively the government . 

What the government decides to do with the report is up to them, some reports are kept in filing cabinets and others are acted upon partially or fully. Is justice done?

One can only hope for.  In the end, it all depends on the people of Malaysia.

Why? Because the last bastion of justice and integrity in Malaysia are Malaysians. Not the RCI. Not the courts. Not any institution. – August 22, 2017.