Anwar's math as Finance Minister under fire: RM100 million cash, Ismail Sabri & giving up RM1 billion from Riza's 1MDB case
KUALA LUMPUR (politicsnowmy.blogspot.com) - Another day, another political shenanigan in embattled Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim's 'paradise' - but for most Malaysians, it was yet another trudge into growing hopelessness and frustration at "this guy. How do we stop him? He's not serious. He's a joker, lah. What's going to happen to us, our children, our livelihoods? We gotta kick him out fast!"
Indeed, even before the dust had settled on two pieces of startling news emerging over the weekend, another two even more jaw-dropping stopped the man on the street in his track on Tuesday morning.
One was that 1MDB, the insolvent state fund fully owned by the Minister of Finance (Incorporated) and at the center of an epic international corruption and money-laundering scandal, had inexplicably chosen to withdraw a lawsuit aimed to recover some US$248 million (about RM1.09 billion) from Riza Aziz, the stepson of disgraced and jailed ex-premier Najib Razak.
The other shocker was the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Agency had found more than RM100 million in cash alone at the home of an aide to former premier Ismail Sabri, seen as a political rival to both Anwar and his Deputy Prime Minister Zahid Hamidi, who is also the Umno president.
"Wow! So much tunai (cash). I personally think it is doubtful," an analyst told PoliticsNow Malaysia, pointing out that the news had come from an anonymous source with the MACC declining to confirm or deny details of its raid so far.
"It's obviously aimed to sensationalize, so I would look at it from the angle that someone is trying to either deflect attention from something else that is going on or is trying to undermine Ismail Sabri before jumping to any conclusions," he added.
The analyst explained that even during the infamous raids on several of the condos and residences linked to Najib in 2018, the police had to enlist the help of Bank Negara officers and took days to count the RM114 million of cash found among the RM1 billion stash of valuables seized that included 12,000 pieces of luxurious jewellery, handbags and watches.
'CATCH & RELEASE' WHILE CIRCULAR LOOTING CONTINUES
Others were less tactful in their opinions.
"Why does it feel like another concocted drama of 'catch and release' ruse to distract the people from flailing-waning popularity. These mendacious (guys) like to inject such theatrics when they deem fit. Why won't they name the people connected, the aides, the top officials? All DNAA (discharge not amounting to acquittal) in the end and the 'circular looting' continues," went a comment that has since gone viral online.
"Doesn't this case resemble 'Drama Minggu Ini (drama of the week, a TV soap opera)? Next week, all will be forgotten. Then wait for the next drama to be aired," wrote another commentator Syed Akbar Ali.
Indeed, Malaysians have much to be cynical about, especially those who had voted for Anwar, his PKR party and their Pakatan Harapan coalition. Yet almost from day one, the 77-year-old Anwar had disappointed them by rushing into an alliance with the Zahid and Najib-led Umno to form a unity government with himself as prime minister, a post he has coveted for decades.
Umno supporters were just as disillusioned by the alliance with many of its 'warlords' including Ismail Sabri lashing out and blaming Zahid for it. Sworn enemies for decades with political cultures as different as night and day, a tie-up between the Malay nationalist Umno and the multi-racial Pakatan was seen as an abomination.
Anwar was accused of selling out and agreeing to free Zahid and Najib from their corruption trials in exchange for Umno supporting his unity government, thereby allowing him to be appointed prime minister. The trio have repeatedly denied the talk, yet Zahid was controversially 'granted' a DNAA when prosecutors in the Anwar government mysteriously withdrew the charges against him. Whilst Najib's 12-year jail term and RM210 million fine has been cut to six years and RM50 million. Still in jail, Najib is lobbying for home arrest as well as for a full royal pardon that will pave the way for a political comeback.
WHAT TYPE OF FINANCE MINISTER IS ANWAR? GUARD THE MONEY, NOT THROW IT AWAY
Deny as Anwar surely will, but to many Malaysians the latest 'sudden' withdrawal of the lawsuit against Riza will as good as confirms his perceived 'debt' to Najib and Zahid.
"Who would do that? Only those without principles," Latheefa.Koya, an ex-MACC commissioner had said during an online talk show - lashing out at Anwar for appointing Zahid as DPM even though Zahid was already on trial for corruption and later shocking the nation by letting his prosecutors withdraw the case against Zahid.
"This time the one withdrawing the case against Riza is the Minister of Finance Inc and no one else. The buck stops directly with Anwar," said the analyst.
"No DPP or AG or SG to blame but the Minister of Finance himself. And the Minister of Finance is supposed to guard the country's finances. So why is Anwar dropping the case? It's not only about forgiving a culprit which is Najib's stepson but more crucially it's about refusing to hunt down and recover US$248 million which is RM1 billion, enough to run and fund multiple relief programs for the needy as well as education programs or build better schools. What sort of Finance Minister is Anwar?"
It looks like Najib has good reason to smile in his prison cell and mull ordering a few more new ultra-luxury suits to wear when he gets out. The day when his own ongoing 1MDB corruption trial will be dropped or dismissed has never looked nearer!
Written by Stan Lee, PoliticsNow Malaysia
https://politicsnowmy.blogspot.com/
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