A DAP MP today took former Transparency International Malaysia chief to task for doing ‘absolutely zero’ to check rampant abuse and corruption in the country.
PAC member and DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua
Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua in a statement last night rapped Low, who is now Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of integrity, for having the ‘cheek’ to tell news agency Bernama to wait for the audit report on the brewing 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) scandal.
“Paul Low, with his glamourous title, has the cheek to tell Malaysians “not to prejudge” and “wait for the audit report” by the Auditor-General (AG). Even so, the AG was only instructed to review the financial accounts of 1MDB in March this year.
“Why has Datuk Paul Low ignored every single criticism and warning bells sounded by my colleagues, the media, other critics and myself, in and out of Parliament, over the last 2 years about the impending 1MDB disaster?” he said.
“Was Datuk Paul Low sleeping in the last two years?” Pua, who is also DAP publicity chief, added.
He also said that while the other Ministers are equally culpable for failing to pull the handbrakes on the escalating crisis, Datuk Paul Low is undoubtedly the single biggest disappointment and failure.
“Low was the President of the Malaysian chapter of Transparency International (TI-M) when he was recruited by the Prime Minister, Dato’ Seri Najib Razak after the 13th General Election to take charge of transparency and accountability. Yet for the past two years, Malaysians were shocked speechless with the brazen and blatant embezzlement in 1MDB where billions of ringgit were embezzled from the state-owned firm by the now infamous Jho Low,” Pua said.
The investment fund, wholly-owned by the Finance Ministry, has come under fire for its large debts, secretive deals and links to businessman Low Taek Jho, or Jho Low.
“Malaysians expected more from Low because of his formerly reputable track record as an activist against corruption. We expected more because he doesn’t belong to any political party and doesn’t have to compromise his principles,” Pua added.
– The Rocket
