DR Mahathir Mohamad today accused Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali of being a liar for withholding the 1MDB report prepared by his predecessor, the sacked A-G Abdul Gani Patail.

Apandi should step down as A-G after he decided to place the 1Malaysia Development Bhd report under the Official Secrets Act, the former prime minister said in his blog chedet.cc today.

“I know the contents of the reports by Bank Negara Malaysia, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and A-G that were submitted to Apandi,” he said.

“I know what’s in the Bank Negara report because former A-G Abdul Gani Patail had shown it to Muhyiddin Yassin when the latter was deputy prime minister.

“In Muhyiddin’s speech as Bersatu president, he often spoke about the reports shown to him by Gani before the latter was fired by the prime minister. The Bersatu leaders, including me, have discussed these reports.”

Dr Mahathir said Apandi still held the post because he was protected by Prime Minister Najib Razak, and vice-versa.

“I would not have challenged Apandi to swear on the Quran if I did not know the content of the reports. We know, and God knows more. If he (Apandi) is brave, then swear on the Quran.”

Dr Mahathir said funds could not be transferred without leaving a paper trail, adding that billions of dollars could not be stashed away in cash and must be kept in a bank.

“The bank records details on the account holder, the sum of the money, dates… even the financial position of the person donating, paying or buying, as well as the name of the beneficiary and other transactions involving the funds.

“There is no way that sum is in cash. All transactions are via cheque, and all details are written down on the cheque and account book.”

He said there were numerous documents required to validate the statements made by both parties in the transaction, including those from the issuing banks, but they had not been produced, adding that such paper trails were necessary if investigations were to take place.

“However, in the case of the US$681 million (RM2.6 billion) that was in Najib’s Ambank account, there are no documents to support the validity of such an enormous transaction, but only a so-called confession by an Arab donor.

“We need to know how this rich Arab got the money. Surely, they have more than what was given.

“The words of the donor, Najib and A-G are insufficient as proof in court and do not convince the public about the source of the US$681 million and the amount said to be withdrawn.”

Dr Mahathir said the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) had given a thorough explanation on the flow of funds from 1MDB to companies and banks in the Cayman Islands, British Virgin Islands, Singapore and finally Najib’s account. The funds were then transferred, through several banks and companies, to Jho Low.

“If DoJ had lied, sue it. But Apandi and Najib did not, even though the accusations hit them right on the nose.”

He said a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) must be set up to investigate 1MDB, questioning why a current crime could be hidden when even a 30-year-old issue, referring to the Bank Negara forex scandal, would be re-examined.

He said if there were fears over setting up an RCI, it was because wrongdoing was involved. – July 26, 2017.