MALAYSIANS are upset over Putrajaya’s deal with Riza Aziz and their anger is understandable, said former government adviser Daim Zainuddin.

“The rakyat want to know why, when you steal Milo (chocolate drink) you go to jail, but when you steal billions of ringgit, you walk away smiling?

“The rakyat think it is a really good deal for him (Riza). He does not have to spend any time behind bars and he is allowed to keep more than RM500 million in stolen money,” Daim said in a recent interview.

Riza, the stepson of former prime minister Najib Razak, was charged with five counts of money-laundering totalling US$248 million (RM1.08 billion) linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) between April 2011 and November 2012.

On May 14, the Kuala Lumpur Sessions Court granted Riza a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNAA). The DNAA is conditional upon the return of foreign assets linked to the alleged crime, estimated at US$107.3 million. Failure to comply with the order will result in Riza having to face the same charges in court.

Riza, along with his mother, Rosmah Mansor, and Najib, have been charged with allegedly swindling billions from the state fund when Najib was in power between 2008 and 2018.

Riza, Rosmah and Najib are among the top personalities charged in court soon after the Barisan Nasional government was defeated in the 14th general election in May 2018 by the Pakatan Harapan coalition.

On February 23, PHwas removed in a bloodless coup by the Perikatan Nasional coalition, an alliance that includes Najib’s party, Umno.

Some six weeks after the coup, the court granted Riza the DNAA.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency (MACC) later said the government is expected to recover overseas assets estimated at US$107.3 million as part of the deal.

Lawyers and PH leaders have criticised the prosecution’s decision to withdraw the charges, arguing that it sends the wrong signal to the public.

Observers also questioned whether Najib, Rosmah and other BN-era leaders facing graft and abuse of power charges will get the same treatment as Riza and not be found guilty.

In his interview, Daim said that the government appeared to have received a lopsided deal in Riza’s verdict.

“Of course, people are angry. He did not offer any additional repayment – all those properties had already been seized and would have been returned to Malaysia anyway.

“Furthermore, the sum they are bandying about is what those properties are valued at.

“It does not mean that that is the amount they will be auctioned off. People would like to know why he is not in jail and why he is allowed to keep more than half of the money he is accused of stealing,” Daim said. – June 17, 2020.