Why the 1MDB issue will not go away

It is very important that the PAC, MACC, police, etc., all come out with a guilty verdict and confirm that Najib did steal at least RM42 billion of 1MDB’s money and that at least RM2.6 billion (and probably even RM4.2 billion) of 1MDB’s money was transferred to his personal bank account.

THE CORRIDORS OF POWER

Raja Petra Kamarudin

Back in 1998, when the abuse of power and sodomy allegations first surfaced, Malaysians were quite divided on the issue. There were those who believed the allegations against Anwar Ibrahim. There were those who did not believe the allegations. And, of course, there were those who did not care either way or kept an open mind on the matter.

I suppose this is exactly what Malaysian politics is like. We have the pro-government. We have the anti-government. Then we have the fence sitters who could swing either way depending on what they can benefit from voting one way or the other.

As soon as Anwar was sacked from Umno and the government on 1-2 September 1998, he launched his campaign and told the world that he is a victim of a political conspiracy and that the allegations against him are false or fitnah.

Many believed this mainly because they were aware that Anwar was, in fact, plotting to oust the then Prime Minister, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Stories had already been circulating a year before that back in 1997 — and when Mahathir took two months leave and appointed Anwar the Acting Prime Minister, the talk in Kuala Lumpur was that Mahathir was laying a trap to see what Anwar would do once he is charge.

And Anwar did make some moves, which Mahathir’s people reported as evidence that Anwar was moving in for the kill and wanted to oust the Prime Minister and take over. Hence when Anwar said that the allegations are false and are merely a political conspiracy to get rid of him, many people believed this story.

In short, they believed the story because they knew that Anwar was plotting to oust Mahathir. So it made sense that Mahathir, in turn, ousted Anwar and used the abuse of power and sodomy allegations merely as an excuse to get rid of him.

Later, when the court convicted Anwar, many of those who believed he was innocent continued to believe so. Even when Anwar appealed the abuse of power conviction and lost, they still believed Anwar was innocent. It was the high court, appeal court and federal court, plus the entire Attorney General’s Chambers and Judiciary, that are all corrupt for sending an innocent man to jail on fabricated charges and in a sham trial.

And when the Australian Broadcasting Corporation made a special report called Malaysia – Trial of Anwar Ibrahim, the people were even more convinced that Anwar was innocent. After all, would the Australian Broadcasting Corporation lie?

Then Anwar was convicted for sodomy a second time. And, yet again, Anwar said he is a victim of a political conspiracy. And, yet again, many of those who believed that Anwar was innocent of the first sodomy allegation believed he is innocent of the second sodomy allegation as well.

And even when Anwar appealed the conviction and lost the appeal they still believed that Anwar is innocent and that he was fixed up and that he is a victim of a political conspiracy and that he was convicted on fabricated evidence and in a sham trial.

In short, it is not easy to change the peoples’ perception. Once they are convinced it is very difficult to un-convince them or to make them change their mind. Even if the evidence is overwhelming they will still reject the evidence and hold on to their original belief. That is how the human mind works.

Anwar played a very successful perception game and won. And once that perception has set in it sort of gets carved in stone. Very few would change their mind even if you can prove them wrong.

It is like the God issue. How do you convince someone who believes in God that God does not exist? It is they who say that God exists. But then they ask you to prove that God does not exist. Why should you prove that God does not exist? It is they who say that God exists so the onus is on them to prove that God exists. And how the hell do you prove that God does not exist anyway? You might be able to prove that God exists but it is impossible to prove that God does not exist.

And that is the situation we have here. It is just like asking Anwar to prove he did not sodomise his boys rather than the prosecution having to prove he did. And this is precisely why the 1MDB issue will not go away.

We have people who believe that a lot of money has been stolen from 1MDB. Some say it is at least RM42 billion and others say it is RM50 billion or more. And one of those saying it is Dr Mahathir. So, since it is Dr Mahathir who says that, then, for obvious reasons, we need to take it seriously.

Then we have The Wall Street Journal, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Sarawak Report, etc., writing that Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak stole 1MDB’s money. Charts and graphics are produced as ‘evidence’ to ‘prove’ that the allegation is true. There can be no stronger evidence than the charts and graphics. The fact they can come out with charts and graphics means the allegation has to be true.

It is just like saying: this is the book that I wrote (call the book whatever you want). And this book says that God exists. And since God inspired me to write this book, therefore, based on the evidence in this book, God does exist.

Anyway, then they ask Najib to prove that he did not steal any money. When Najib does nothing, they whack him for keeping quiet and for not responding. They say that Najib’s silence is proof that he is guilty.

So Najib responds and says that he did not steal any money. Then they say he is lying and is not telling the truth. They demand that instead of hearing from Najib, who they do not believe, the matter should be investigated by an independent and non-partisan body such as the PAC. They also want the MACC and police to investigate the allegation.

The PAC, MACC and police all did that. And the finding of all the investigators is that Najib did not steal any money and none of 1MDB’s money was transferred to his personal bank account.

But now they say the PAC, MACC and police did not do a proper or thorough job and/or are lying and are trying to cover up. Najib is guilty of stealing and any verdict other than guilty is a sham verdict. The only acceptable verdict is that Najib is guilty and did, in fact, steal money.

It is very important that the PAC, MACC, police, etc., all come out with a guilty verdict and confirm that Najib did steal at least RM42 billion of 1MDB’s money and that at least RM2.6 billion (and probably even RM4.2 billion) of 1MDB’s money was transferred to his personal bank account.

So there you have it. Those who believe that Najib did steal 1MDB’s money will continue to believe so never mind what you say and do. It is just like those who believe that Anwar is innocent of sodomy will continue to believe so never mind what evidence and witnesses you can adduce to prove Anwar’s guilt.

This whole thing is not about evidence or proof. It is about belief. And belief does not need evidence or proof. All it needs is faith. If I have faith and believe that those who die while performing Jihad will go straight to heaven and will be rewarded with 72 virgins then I will not hesitate to blow myself up and a busload of Israeli schoolchildren together with me.

And with that I leave you with Fantasia Barrino singing ‘I Believe’. Enjoy!