A public debate on 1MDB between a Member of Parliament who has been raising a lot of questions about it and the President of that state-owned company is not going to provide the answers that the rakyat are looking for.
We want to know the truth and nothing but the whole truth about the activities of 1MDB and its present and past subsidiaries and how they are related to the 2.6 billion ringgit in the Prime Minister’s personal bank account.
A debate by its very nature will compel each side to defend its position however skewed it may be and will not force the parties concerned to establish the truth that we all seek.
An honest discussion between Tony Pua and Arul Kanda conducted through a format that allows the two to share facts and examine the processes involved in the various financial transactions associated with 1MDB and its subsidiaries may be a better idea than resorting to a modality that requires the two to score debating points.
But even such a discussion is no substitute for a comprehensive investigation. What is so disappointing is that the various attempts at investigating the controversy are not proceeding the way they should.
The former Attorney-General, Tan Sri Gani Patail, could not complete the task he had undertaken for reasons beyond his control. Bank Negara’s recommendation for action submitted to the current Attorney-General will not be acted upon though the Bank itself is convinced of the strength of its case.
The previous Public Accounts Committee (PAC) was stymied in its inquiry and the new PAC has yet to resume its work. The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) continues to investigate one of the crucial ex-subsidiaries of 1MDB which is now under the Ministry of Finance, fully cognizant of the fact that its work has been hampered by the disappearance of critical witnesses.
The Auditor-General has done a preliminary report but his full report is only expected at the end of the year at the earliest. The Police is also supposed to be investigating activities related to 1MDB but it is unclear what it has done so far and what its remit is.
There are many other developments which have taken place in the last few months which give the impression that the powers-that-be are not on the same page as the people about revealing the whole truth vis-a-vis the 1MDB controversy from A to Z.
The transfer of public officials determined to carry out their duties in connection with 1MDB; the arrest and detention of a 1MDB critic within the Establishment and his legal counsel; the dismissal of the former Deputy Prime Minister and a Minister who had demanded action against alleged 1MDB culprits; and current attempts to marginalize and even remove 1MDB dissidents within UMNO, all indicate that those who pursue the truth on this major issue of integrity must be prepared to pay the price.
In this regard, it is important to remind UMNO leaders that it would be a transgression of one of the party’s hallowed traditions to prevent the party’s current elected Deputy President, Tan Sri Mahyuddin Yassin, from officiating at its Wanita, Pemuda and Puteri Assembly next month.
After Tun Musa Hitam resigned as Deputy Prime Minister from Tun Mahathir Mohamad’s Cabinet in early 1986, he opened the Wanita-Pemuda Assembly that year in his capacity as UMNO Deputy President.
Even in the following year which witnessed the most intense factional struggle in the history of the party, with the UMNO President and Deputy President in different camps, it was Musa as Deputy President who opened the joint Assembly.
When attempts are made to set aside traditions and institutions are trampled upon by the mighty, the people should focus upon the way power is used and abused.
They should do all that is possible through the constitutional channels that are available to persuade the powers- that-be to uphold integrity and to fulfill their roles as trustees of the people.
This is far more important at this stage than getting distracted by a debate that will do little to enhance elite accountability that the people yearn for.
** Dr Chandra Muzaffar is a political scientist and founder/president of International Movement for Just A World.
** The opinions and views expressed in this article are those of of the authors and do not reflect the view of Astro AWANI.
Dr Chandra Muzaffar
Thu Nov 05 2015
A debate will not force the parties concerned to establish the truth that we all seek, says Dr Chandra Muzaffar.
Saya tak takut dibenci penonton kerana watak jahat - MK K-Clique
Selain Ben dan MK K-Clique, filem arahan sulung Awie itu turut dibintangi Shiqin Kamal, Noralbaniah, Azlan Komeng dan Awie sendiri.
ESSCOM tahan 37 individu dalam operasi bersepadu di Kalabakan
Sebanyak 37 individu ditahan melibatkan pelbagai kesalahan dalam operasi Pos Pemeriksaan Darat (RCP) di bawah ESSCOM.
[TERKINI] Penyanyi veteran Hail Amir meninggal dunia
Penyanyi veteran, Datuk Hail Amir, 76 dilaporkan meninggal dunia di Hospital Kuala Lumpur pada jam 3.40 petang, Isnin.
OKU Sentral bantah istilah digunakan Isaiah Jacob dalam merujuk kepada OKU
OKU Sentral menyuarakan rasa kecewa, dan membantah tindakan Senator Isaiah Jacob berterusan menggunakan istilah "specially abled".
Adobe tamatkan penawaran Photoshop Mix, Fix untuk Android
Pengguna boleh menggunakan Photoshop Express yang menyertakan pelbagai ciri-ciri yang terdapat pada kedua-dua aplikasi tersebut.
Faisal Halim jalani pembedahan hampir empat jam
Pemain sayap skuad kebangsaan, Faisal Halim, dilaporkan semakin stabil selepas menjalani pembedahan hampir empat jam tengah malam tadi.
Penyanyi veteran Hail Amir meninggal dunia
Penyanyi veteran, Hail Amir dilaporkan meninggal dunia di Hospital Kuala Lumpur pada jam 3.40 petang, Isnin.
Kertas siasatan logo mirip kalimah Allah pada kasut diserah kepada AG
Kertas siasatan berhubung logo yang didakwa mirip kalimah Allah tertera pada tapak kasut telah diserahkan kepada Peguam Negara.
Pertumbuhan pinjaman industri perbankan 5.4 peratus seiring jangkaan bagi tahun ini
Pertumbuhan pinjaman sektor perbankan sebanyak 5.4 peratus setakat tahun ini, adalah sejajar dengan unjuran julat pertumbuhan 4.0-5.0 peratus bagi 2024.
Penunjuk perasaan kampus bertembung di Chicago
Penunjuk perasaan Pro-Palestin dan pro-Israel Universiti DePaul di Chicago, Illinois mengadakan protes serentak pada Ahad sebagai tanda sokongan mereka kepada Israel dan Palestin dalam perang di Gaza.
Kes 1MDB: Siasatan SPRM dapati Najib lakukan kesalahan salah guna kuasa - Saksi
Siasatan SPRM mendapati elemen salah guna kuasa untuk dapatkan rasuah itu dikesan sewaktu pemeteraian perjanjian bersama Aabar PJS.
Najib dapat persetujuan Kabinet sebelum luluskan surat sokongan bon US$3 bilion
Mahkamah Tinggi di sini hari ini diberitahu Najib telah mendapatkan persetujuan sebulat suara daripada menteri-menteri Kabinet sebelum meluluskan surat sokongan berhubung penerbitan bon.
SPRM mohon maklumat dari Jerman berhubung dana 1MDB disyaki beli kereta mewah
Ia berhubung laporan kereta mewah dirampas oleh pihak berkuasa Jerman di Munich yang dipercayai berkait dengan kes 1MDB.
Kes 1MDB: Najib percaya Blackstone dikawal Arab Saudi, Raja Abdullah - Saksi
Saksi memberitahu Najib percaya bahawa syarikat Blackstone Asia Real Estate Partners dikawal oleh kerajaan Arab Saudi dan Raja Arab Saudi.
1MDB: Prosiding Najib julung kali dibuat pada Sabtu
Perbicaraan pertama dibuat pada hujung minggu ini berlangsung tepat jam 8.30 pagi, selepas bekas Perdana Menteri itu dibawa pihak berkuasa dengan menaiki kenderaan dari Jabatan Penjara.
'Kementerian Kewangan tiada rekod surat kelulusan Najib bagi 1MDB ambil alih Tanjong Energy, Genting Sanyen' - Saksi
Dalam siasatan SPRM, Kementerian Kewangan mengesahkan tidak mempunyai rekod ke atas kedua-dua surat tersebut.
Najib diberi peluang jelaskan mengenai dokumen 1MDB ketika disoal siasat - Pegawai SPRM
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa Najib diberi peluang untuk menjelaskan secara terperinci mengenai dokumen berkaitan 1MDB, ketika disoal siasat.
Najib tak pernah arah pengurusan 1MDB pindah AS$1.03 bilion kepada syarikat Jho Low - Saksi
Mahkamah Tinggi diberitahu bahawa Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak tidak pernah mengarahkan mana-mana individu daripada pengurusan 1MDB untuk memindahkan AS$1.03 bilion kepada syarikat Jho low.
Tidak penting untuk tanya jika Najib arah AS$700 juta dipindah kepada syarikat Jho Low - Saksi
Saksi itu berkata demikian ketika disoal oleh peguam Wan Azwan Aiman Wan Fakhruddin berhubung transaksi yang dilakukan pada September 2009.
1MDB: Mahkamah akan tentukan sama ada pendakwaan berjaya buktikan kes - Hakim
Muhammad Shafee berhujah bahawa pertuduhan terhadap anak guamnya adalah salah serta bertindih.