THERE is no need for the formation of Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the Memali tragedy, said Bersatu president Muhyiddin Yassin.

Muhyiddin said he is baffled by Putrajaya’s decision to set up an RCI to probe into a three-decade-old tragedy while ignoring calls to investigate the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) scandal.

“I believe the tragedy happened a long time ago and I was told there was a statement issued and discussed in Parliament then.

“What the people are asking for and want is an RCI to probe into 1MDB.

“I am not implying that the Memali tragedy is a small issue but 1MDB is a current issue faced by the country and involves billions of ringgit and is being discussed at an international level with many reports on it.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi recently announced that the government will set up and RCI to probe into the 1985 Memali tragedy if there are requests, including family members of the victims.

Muhyiddin said there is a political reason behind the government’s urgency to set up an RCI on Memali instead of investigating 1MDB.

“The demands (for the setting up of RCI for 1MDB) are not only from the opposition as many others have voiced out that this issue should be solved.

“The best solution is to set up an RCI to investigate 1MDB and the reports released by US Depart of Justice (DOJ).

“It is a serious matter and the country is suffering from the consequences caused from bribery and misappropriation which involve Malaysian Official No. 1 (MO1), Reza Aziz and Jho Low,” he added. – August 22, 2017.