Annuar: Pakatan’s fake news strategy being exposed

The Swiss parliament’s rejection of 1MDB issue has foiled the opposition plans, says the Umno information chief

(Berita Daily) – Pakatan Harapan’s attempt to discredit the BN government by using the Swiss parliament’s motion on 1MDB has backfired, said Umno information chief Annuar Musa today.

He said that the Swiss parliament’s rejection of a motion to repatriate the supposedly “stolen” 1MDB funds has foiled the opposition’s attempt to use fake news as its main issue in the coming 14th General Election (GE14).

Annuar added the opposition’s desperate attempt was foiled as only 53 Swiss lawmakers voted for, while 138 had opposed the motion.

“As predicted, the Swiss parliament has rejected the motion submitted by its member of parliament, Carlo Sommaruga, for the funds held in the country (by the Swiss Federal Treasury) linked to 1MDB to be repatriated back to Malaysians.

“Previously, just before the last general election, Sommaruga had raised issue using a similar method and timing, aimed at several politicians in Malaysia.

“Several people from the opposition were responsible for arranging these,” said Annuar in a statement today.

He said Sommaruga was known to have contact with several Malaysian opposition leaders as well as in anti-government NGOs.

Annuar said opposition leaders Lim Kit Siang and Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail had also been involved in the bid to highlight the ‘fake news’ by claiming that 1MDB money was being held in Switzerland.

“Had the Swiss parliament approved the motion, the opposition would have played up the issue for the general election. However, one by one, their fake news strategy is being exposed.

“Nevertheless, they still wanted to play on the people’s perception on 1MDB by saying it had lost its money, or that the money was stolen, accusing Prime Minister Najib as part of their efforts to topple him.

“But the truth is, the fund held by the Swiss was a disgorgement of profit (fine) imposed on certain banks which had allegedly breached laws in the country. Furthermore, the motion was a general one and not specifically on 1MDB money.”

Annuar said when the motion was brought up last year, the Swiss Federal Council (equivalent to the Cabinet) had rejected the motion.

“Furthermore, 1MDB had reiterated that it had not lost any money and that the CHF104 million (RM430 million) does not belong to them.

“What is happening in other countries is absolutely beyond the power of 1MDB.”

Annuar said 1MDB had invested legally and recouped its investment with profits.

“How is it possible that, after recouping their investment and with no losses, 1MDB now wants to claim someone else’s funds as its own. It would be a different case if 1MDB had indeed lost money. Were that to happen, surely it would be registered in its accounts.

“The accounts, it has to be noted, were checked by the Public Accounts Committee, which is also made up of PAS, PKR and DAP parliamentarians.”