Najib cannot be forgiven for 1MDB RM42 billion debt, says Dr M
(The Malaysian Insider) – Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak cannot be forgiven for losing RM42 billion through state investment vehicle, 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad said today
The country’s longest serving prime minister said that debts accumulated by the controversial fund were not small amounts, adding that if Najib was not stopped, this would continue and more money would be lost.
”We cannot forgive anymore, we have to focus on this (1MDB).
“If we don’t stop this, it will continue to happen,” he said at a forum at the K-Klub in Taman Melawati today.
He said if the amount lost was a mere RM1 or 2 million, it would have been “not so bad”, but RM42 billion was a huge amount that cannot be ignored.
“And when I asked him (Najib) to answer all this, there was no answer.
“So I told myself I cannot afford to turn a blind eye anymore. If we don’t speak up, this will continue on.”
Dr Mahathir noted that he had initially not wanted to stir up trouble for Najib, fearing that others would think he wanted to continue holding on to power.
“People will say I cannot agree with anyone, that I want to be prime minister forever.
“But this is about billions. So, I asked myself, not my wife, but myself, about this and told myself this cannot go on.
“Then I asked where the money was but my questions have gone unanswered. RM1 million or 2 ok la… but this is RM42 billion.”
He also made a reference to businessman Low Taek Jho, better known as Jho Low, who has been linked to the troubled state investment fund, questioning the rationale of giving him billions of 1MDB’s money to manage.
“This Jho Low… I don’t know how low he is but he claims he was not involved with 1MDB.
“But court records in London show that he claims to have backing from the Malaysian government and 1MDB.
“And giving him RM42 billion to manage? This just cannot go on,” he added.
