DAP publicity chief Tony Pua says that the opposition, the media and financial analysts have been raising questions about 1 MDB for the last five years. - The Malaysian Insider pic, March 6, 2015The DAP today questioned why Umno minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi was 'shooting the messenger' over controversies surrounding debt-laden 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) instead of blaming those who robbed Malaysia and its taxpayers of their money.The party's publicity chief Tony Pua said that the opposition, the media and financial analysts have been raising questions about the fund over the last five years, but Putrajaya and its ministers have not taken heed.Pua said, instead, they were in denial and convinced themselves that the future of 1MDB was shining brightly, to the point that it accumulated debts of RM42 billion.The DAP lawmaker said the public cannot be blamed for raising concerns over the solvency of the fund after it failed to pay a relatively small debt of RM2 billion upon missing at least three deadlines and needing a last minute loan from local tycoon Tan Sri Ananda Krishnan.Ahmad Zahid had reportedly said that the attacks and unsubstantiated claims by certain parties on 1MDB would affect the country's image and is seen as a concerted attack on Malaysia."Those behind it must take responsibility for any false accusations," Ahmad Zahid was quoted as saying. But Pua said in a statement today that the home minister has trained his guns on the wrong parties."Instead of shooting the messenger, Datuk Seri Zahid should lay the blame squarely on those who has robbed the Malaysian government and its taxpayers, as well as those who have allowed all these to happen under their noses."And instead of rebuking all the attacks, speculations and unsubstantiated claims by certain quarters, why didn’t the home minister instruct the Inspector General of Police to investigate these claims?" Pua asked.He added that after all, the key claims that have been made – in particular the transfer of US$700 million into an account controlled by local businessman Low Taek Jho and his associates have been supported with documents.Pua also volunteered to help the home minister, IGP and the entire Cabinet understand the allegations of impropriety in 1MDB by giving them a presentation.He added that he would also answer any questions posed so that they can clear any doubt over the criticisms made against the controversial fund."Is the Cabinet ready to hear the truth?"Or do they prefer to continue behaving like the proverbial three monkeys role of “eyes that see not, ears that hear not and mouths that speak not" and continue happily shooting the messenger?" he asked.Pua said when The Sunday Times in the United Kingdom, in collaboration with website Sarawak Report, ran an expose last week on Low and his alleged links to 1MDB's venture with international oil company PetroSaudi International, the whole world came crashing down on 1MDB.Sarawak Report had accused Low of siphoning off US$700 million from 1MDB using PetroSaudi as a front in the 2009 joint venture."But it was not The Sunday Times, or the Sarawak Report or opposition politicians like myself who caused damage to Malaysia’s reputation. "It was 1MDB’s utter failure and complete incompetence, as well as a blissfully ignorant and corrupt government which resulted in the global negative publicity we face today," Pua said. – March 6, 2015
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