Najib didn't start 1MDB rot, but used it to his advantage, says C4 head

Low Han Shaun Low Han Shaun Updated 8 years ago · Published on 10 Mar 2018 7:24PM · 2 Comments

Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism executive director Cynthia Gabriel says one way to end the rot in the government is to implement key institutional reforms, including making law enforcement independent. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, March 10, 2018.

THE rot in 1Malaysia Development Bhd was not started by Najib Razak, but the prime minister used it to his advantage, said anti-graft activist Cynthia Gabriel.

The Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) executive director said Najib “made it personal” when he allegedly used 1MDB funds to benefit his family.

“It’s personal because he got RM2.6 billion transferred into his personal bank accounts. It’s personal because his wife went on the Equanimity yacht to negotiate with Jho Low about matters related to her pink diamonds.

“We need to put a stop to the rot in the entire system. He (Najib) didn’t start the rot. It was started by his predecessors.

“But, he used it to his advantage very cleverly, and also used the global financial system (via shell companies) that opened up other windows of opportunity for him,” said Cynthia during the From BMF to 1MDB: A criminological and sociological discussion book launch and forum today.

Universiti Pertahanan Negara Malaysia criminologist Professor Teh Yik Koon says scandals like that involving 1Malaysia Development Bhd take place because Malaysians allow them to happen. – The Malaysian Insight pic by Kamal Ariffin, March 10, 2018.

Last week, the RM1 billion Equanimity, owned by 1MDB-linked businessman Low, whose full name is Low Taek Jho, was seized by Indonesia in a joint effort with the US Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Last year, US Attorney-General Jeff Sessions had dubbed the 1MDB scandal as “kleptocracy at its worst”, and said more than US$4.5 billion (RM18 billion) in funds had been laundered via a complex web of transactions from shell companies, ranging from those in Switzerland and Singapore to Luxembourg and the US.

Cynthia said one way to end the rot in the government is to implement key institutional reforms, including making law enforcement independent.

From BMF to 1MDB is authored by Universiti Pertahanan Negara Malaysia criminologist Professor Teh Yik Koon, and is the product of her research on how the two scandals – 1MDB and Bumiputera Malaysia Finance – took place.

She said scandals like the BMF one, which occurred in the 1970s, and 1MDB took place because Malaysians allowed them to happen.

“All this corruption and abuse of power takes place because society allowed it to build up, and over the years, it got worse.”

The Malaysian Insight reported that RM85.51 billion in taxpayers’ funds have been used to bail out troubled government-linked companies, such as Perwaja Steel, Malaysia Airlines and 1MDB, over the past 36 years. – March 10, 2018.

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Comments

  • The world would be surprised if Najib wins the GE14 election. No kleptocrat has ever emerged as winner given the massive series of scandals and the global reports at every major news agencies. The truth will always prevail and justice will be served against those evil doers, eventually

    Posted 8 years ago by Mark Francis · Reply

  • Malaysia without any doubt needs to revamp itself in a number of areas (good English being one of them) in order to compete and survive in the modern world (just rambling!) but with 1MDB I have a rather long story to share, & it may involve weak circumstantial evidence which a court of law may not accept as the standard of proof is too high if in a criminal prosecution...suspicion or conjecture born out of mere debate will not hold water..You need a very high standard of clearcut, concrete & credible proof in this matter which is why the Americans have so far with their sense of justice and fair play not begun criminal proceedings against anyone..Even lawyers can be confused by it all, intricate & mind-boggling as it appears to be..

    Posted 8 years ago by MELVILLE JAYATHISSA · Reply