Cabinet members don’t know how to handle 1MDB issue, Dr M says
(Malay Mail Online) – Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad poured scorn today on the entire federal Cabinet, saying its members are “obviously” unable to handle the 1 Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy.
According to The Star Online, Dr Mahathir noted that although every minister has his or her own personal view about the matter and he could not speak on their behalf, they were clearly stumped by how to deal with the issue.
“What is obvious that the whole Cabinet seems unable to deal with this problem.
“Some (ministers) appear not to understand, others feel that it’s none of their business, others are thinking that it is safer not to say anything,” he was quoted telling reporters at the Seri Pacific Hotel.
According to an Utusan Malaysia report earlier this week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak told Cabinet members last week that they could choose to resign if they disagreed with how he has been handling the 1MDB controversy.
The report, however, said that not a single minister present at the meeting spoke up, despite being given the opportunity to do so.
This triggered a flurry of criticism from federal opposition lawmakers, who said the ministers who previously voiced concern over the 1MDB issue were too afraid of losing their positions to speak up.
After the report, senior Umno minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Nazri Aziz said Najib’s remarks had been issued in a cordial manner and had not meant to be an ultimatum to the Cabinet.
Dr Mahathir, when asked today if he felt Najib’s remarks were meant to silent those who dared to disagree with him over 1MDB, the former said during his tenure, he would remove those who went against him.
“During my time the ministers who cannot agree with my policy, I removed them and then I replaced them.
“But when they agree again with my policy, I take then back,” he was quoted in The Star Online as saying.
Earlier today, ministers Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein and Datuk Seri Mohd Shafie Apdal said they saw no reason to resign over 1MDB.
