PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamd (pic) wants those involved in the setting up of 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), including Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, to be charged with sabotaging Malaysia's financial and banking systems.
"1MDB may sell the 60 Ringgit p.s.f. land that it bought from the Government at 5000% above the purchase price and repay the loans. But the fact remains that had 1MDB not been created, the huge sum of borrowed money would not have disappeared.
"For this, 1MDB and those responsible must still be charged for abuses of the banking and financial system, repayment of the loans notwithstanding," he said.
Dr Mahathir said that he was "confused" by the Attorney General's statement that Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu Hassan, the former Batu Kawan Umno division vice-chairman, and his lawyer Matthias Chang were being charged with sabotage of the nations banking and financial systems.
"I assume their reports to the police in the UK, Switzerland and Hong Kong where the transactions took place were the basis of their sabotage charges," he said.
Dr Mahathir pointed out that the publication by foreign press of the shenanigans by 1MDB came out long before Khairuddin reported it.
"These news reports were not casual reports but were very detailed descriptions of what and who were involved. They were reporting on what is well known to the whole world," he wrote.
He questioned why none of the news reports were rebutted by 1MDB or the finance ministry.
"Since the impression created about Malaysia’s alleged abuses of the financial and banking systems could result ultimately in the loss of confidence in Malaysia’s political and economic health and its financials, why was it not satisfactorily rebutted?," he said.
Dr Mahathir also called on news reporters who reported on 1MDB to be charged with sabotage.
"But had there been no 1MDB and no RM42 bil being borrowed, the press would not report it, nor would there be any police reports. Wouldn’t these press reports then be considered as sabotage?," he asked.
On Oct 13, Khairuddin and his lawyer were charged with trying to sabotage the country's finances under Section 124 (L) of the Penal Code.
Both were accused of jointly committing the offences at the Paris Police Station; Charing Cross Police Station, London; Switzerland Attorney-General’s office, Bern; Wai Chan Police Station, Hong Kong; and Cantonment Police Headquarters, Singapore, between June 28 and Aug 26.
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