It is indeed disheartening to turn to a foreign authority for answers into the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) financial scandal. What choice do we have otherwise?
Malaysians were waiting for answers relating to the infamous scandal for many months from local authorities in charge of investigations.
But we got none. In March last year, the Inspector-General of Police announced that a task force will be set up to get to the bottom of these financial discrepancies.
When that promise was made to the people, we expected clear answers, transparency and accountability.
When we are not given answers we naturally seek them elsewhere. Hence, we look forward with much anticipation to the evidence gathered by the Swiss Attorney General, the Singapore government and the US Justice Department.
The 1MDB scandal was listed as one of “The Worst Corruption Scandals of 2015” by Foreign Policy magazine.
Today, Malaysia’s prime minister is named the worst finance minister of 2016 in the Asia Pacific region.
But our government has a motto. It is “Ignorance is Bliss” and they have been practicing it for decades now.
The government, not just the prime minister but every member of the executive had conspired against the people of Malaysia and stopped any real investigation into this issue.
The attorney-general (A-G) was sacked and replaced, deputy prime minister removed, intervention with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, PAC was dismantled and the task force was silenced. Where would we obtain answers from?
In the midst of falling oil prices, the plunging value of the Ringgit and the steep rise in the costs of living, this ignorance drives every Malaysian to the point of utter frustration.
The fact that we have no clue as to what took place and the extent of the corruption is what bothers us.
We have no choice but to celebrate the fact that the Swiss A-G did not follow diplomatic protocols. We have no choice but to be happy and relieved that the Swiss A-G decided to issue a public statement.
Who cares about protocol? We want the truth. We want answers. It was indeed a blessing to hear the Swiss A-G issuing a public statement on the 1MDB issue right after our A-G announced that the A-G’s Chambers would not be bringing any charges against the prime minister and SRC International Sdn Bhd and that there was insufficient evidence.
Naturally, the question would arise as to why would the Swiss A-G go public. If our government has nothing to hide as they always claim, instead of confidently meeting his demand, why resort to an outcry on petty issues like protocols. Why aren’t the findings revealed and made public?
And to the Swiss authority and the Singapore authority and to all other foreign probes into the 1MDB scandal, please come forward.
Please issue public statements. Please keep in mind that the Malaysian people are benefiting from the lack of protocol.
To us, it is information our government is not providing us with. – February 4, 2016.
* Thulsi Manogaran reads The Malaysian Insider.
* This is the personal opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insider.
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