KEPONG MP Lim Lip Eng has criticised Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Mas Ermieyati Samsudin for her explanation on the delay in a probe related to the 1MDB scandal.
Lim said Mas Ermieyati’s response is “simply irrational” and “not befitting someone in her position” when she said that the authorities were unable to further their investigation in Singapore on Tawfiq Ayman, the husband of former Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz, over links to the scandal.
“Under the current uncertainty during the coronavirus pandemic, the police can and should make use of various means of electronic communications, from video conferencing calls to emails, to contact its counterpart in Singapore for information and documents,” Lim commented.
“I am also pretty sure that the High Commission of Singapore in Kuala Lumpur is pleased to help our police on this ongoing investigation.”
Mas Ermieyati said in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday (March 1) the police were supposed to continue with the investigation in Singapore but were unable to do so because the border was closed.
“There is no reason why the US Department of Justice (DOJ) would not share information over the new revelations made by former Goldman Sachs banker Tim Leissner about how he had helped former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and Malaysian fugitive, Jho Low in stealing billions of US dollars from 1MDB,” Lim further pointed out.
Lim went on to demand that Mas Ermieyati explain if the authorities have asked the US authorities for assistance on Leissner’s latest disclosures.
“Where is the official response from DOJ? Is Mas not telling the truth when she said that it is not easy to obtain cooperation with a superpower that is hot on the 1MDB trail?
“I am sure that the US embassy in Malaysia will be more than willing to assist Malaysia in bringing the criminals in both countries to justice,” he remarked.
Lim also questioned the need for further action to be taken only when the borders of both countries reopen as even court cases can be done online during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is especially when the case has generated public interest, not only in Malaysia, but worldwide, putting Malaysia’s reputation at stake in the eyes of investors,” he justified.
“Enough is enough! The Government must stop finding excuses in delaying the 1MDB corruption investigation.
“We need a closure on 1MDB, which is dubbed the biggest scandal in financial history worldwide, by throwing the books at every criminal involved in the scandal and recovering whatever amount of the stolen 1MDB money.” – March 2, 2022
