THE United States could have used military might and need not file civil suits in its own country if it wanted to topple the Malaysian government, DAP said today.

Party secretary-general Lim Guan Eng said Umno and PAS were only confusing the people with statements alluding that the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) suits to recover assets bought with funds allegedly stolen from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) were to take down the government and a “foreign intervention in Malaysia’s domestic affairs”. 

He said Umno and PAS were just trying to cover up the scandal and divert attention from the kleptocracy and alleged theft of billions of ringgit.

“Investigations into the allegations of money-laundering involving the funds are in the US, not Malaysia. Action is being taken against alleged illegal activities committed in the US, which violated American laws.

“The civil suits were filed in the US, not Malaysia. Don’t try to confuse the people. If the US wanted to control Malaysia, it has the military power to do so,” he told a press conference in Penang today.

The DoJ filed its latest and third suit related to the 1MDB scandal earlier this month, seeking to recover US$540 million (RM2.3 billion) in assets, including artworks, jewellery and film rights, alleged purchased with misappropriated funds.

The suit gained prominence as items listed by the DoJ for seizure included gifts presented to several celebrities like Oscar-winning actor Leonardo DiCaprio and supermodel Miranda Kerr.

Both celebrities have since surrendered the gifts they received from businessman Jho Low, who is also named in the suit together with Prime Minister Najib Razak’s stepson Riza Aziz.

The suit also noted that nearly US$30 million (RM128.7 million) was allegedly stolen from 1MDB to buy jewellery, including a 22-carat rare pink diamond set in a necklace worth US$27.3 million, for the wife of “Malaysian Official 1” in 2013. 

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Abdul Rahman Dahlan had previously confirmed MO1 as Najib. The DoJ suit did not list the pink diamond necklace as an item to be seized.

Umno ministers and leaders have repeatedly dismissed the DoJ suits as a foreign interference manufactured by the opposition. 

Earlier this week, Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali also said the DoJ suits were politically-driven.

Lim, who is also Penang chief minister, said the views taken by those supportive of the BN administration were “wrong, deviated and overboard” (Salah, terpesong dan melampau).

“The DoJ complaint said more than US4.5 billion was allegedly misappropriated by high-level Malaysian officials and their associates.

“DiCaprio and Kerr had returned their gifts. Only people from Malaysia have not returned theirs. They talk about morals but they don’t return things allegedly bought with stolen 1MDB funds,” he said.

Lim also reiterated that the scandal, which was widely reported by the international media, had a huge impact on Malaysia and its economy.

“This is the scandal that drained our funds, causing the federal government to implement the goods and services tax that in turned led to the rise in cost of living,” he said. – June 29, 2017.