The Malaysian Insight

PAKATAN Harapan is reconsidering its cooperation with Putrajaya following revelations that the government is considering an application from former prime minister Najib Razak for a RM100 million property, Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said today.

He said the disclosure by Finance Minister Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz in the Dewan Rakyat today was shocking.

“This decision by the government has forced us to re-evaluate any form of cooperation (between the opposition and government) that has existed thus far,” the PKR president said in a statement.

In September, the opposition and government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for political stability and transformation.

The MOU has six thrusts: strengthening the country’s Covid-19 plan, institutional transformation, parliamentary reforms, judiciary independence, the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and the formation of the steering committee.

Under the agreed deal, the government has promised to deliver three major reforms by the middle of next year, before the next or fifth session of Parliament.

They are the anti-party hopping law, the implementation of Undi18 and automatic voter registration, and the imposition of a 10-year term limit on the prime minister’s tenure, among others.

Earlier today, Tengku Zafrul told the Dewan Rakyat that Najib had made the application for the RM100 million property after Budget 2022.

Zafrul, however, did not confirm if the application was approved, adding that it would be brought as a supplementary budget.

Anwar said that it was shocking that the cabinet had unanimously agreed to the application made by the Pekan lawmaker.

“This matter was never discussed nor were we informed of it in any meetings with government representatives.”

The Port Dickson MP said the government’s decision to “gift” the land to an individual who was convicted of a crime is immoral and mind-boggling.

“Until today, he (Najib) still can’t explain how he came into possession of large amounts of money, and the jewellery that belonged to him and his wife.

“The people will surely not forget how they are now burdened with a debt of RM32 billion due to the corruption and fraud in 1MDB (1Malaysia Development Berhad).”

Najib was sentenced to 12 years in jail and fined RM210 million after he was found guilty of seven counts of criminal breach of trust, money laundering and abuse of power involving RM42 million in funds from former 1MDB unit SRC International.

A news portal had recently reported that the convicted former prime minister had requested a “privilege” from the government in the form of a 1.13ha residential property worth RM100 million in Kuala Lumpur.

Najib was said to have made the request about a year after his fall from power in the 2018 election, and again last year.

According to the report, Najib was said to have made the request based on the practice that the government of the day is expected to reward its predecessors for their service and contributions.

The news portal said that the application was approved although several ministers were unhappy with the matter. – November 18, 2021.