KUALA LUMPUR: The Opposition has always placed its personal ambitions and self-interest ahead of what is best for Malaysia, said Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications Director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan.
Abdul Rahman said, instead of welcoming the announcement that 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) had settled its differences with International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC) and monetised all its investment fund units, they seem intent on continuing their programme of undermining the country’s economy.
“They have tried every trick in the book. From sabotaging the IPO of 1MDB’s energy assets which led to this situation, to falsely declaring to the world that Malaysia is a bankrupt state.
“However, it should be clear even to them that these attempts have failed.
“Now, they are trying to distract the rakyat by spreading more lies, such as suggesting that Malaysian taxpayers will have to bail out 1MDB and make USD6 billion in payments,” he said in a statement today.
Debunking this, Abdul Rahman said it detracts from the fact that 1MDB’s fund units assets worth up to USD 2.5 billion have been monetised, and a significant milestone has been achieved towards the completion of 1MDB’s rationalisation plan that started almost two years ago.
Abdul Rahman said the first tranche of payments for it had already been received by 1MDB in cash. In addition, he said 1MDB and IPIC had announced that they will enter into negotiations to settle other payments made by 1MDB that is separate from the USD2.5 billion arising from the monetisation of the fund units.
“This not only proves that, contrary to the Opposition’s lies, the funds have existed all this while.
“It also slams the door shut on their wild allegation that these funds were somehow transferred to the Prime Minister’s accounts, an allegation that had previously been rejected by no less than the Saudi Foreign Minister who publicly stated that these funds were a donation from the Saudi royal family.
“There can be absolutely no doubt that these allegations were malicious lies intended to bring Malaysia’s economy to its knees, just for selfish political gain,” he said.
Abdul Rahman added that the DAP-led Opposition, and its supporter, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, should accept that their campaign has failed.