(MENAFN- The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Malaysian opposition figures have called on Prime Minister Najib Razak to take leave from all government positions until he is cleared of allegations that he pocketed $700 million in public funds.
Opposition leader Dr. Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said Tuesday that Razak must allow a fair investigation into state-owned investment arm 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) and the alleged transfer of funds into his personal bank accounts.
"If he remains in the government, we do not believe that the investigation would be fair," she told some 150 opposition parliamentarians and members of civil rights societies gathered at parliament's parade ground. "We are asking him to take leave immediately."
Ismail underlined that by taking leave, Razak would also instill confidence among Malaysians, who are confused about current developments pertaining to the country's finances and 1MDB, which has chalked up debt of 42 billion Ringgit ($11 billion).
The Wall Street Journal and whistle blower site Sarawak Report released reports Friday quoting documents allegedly from an ongoing probe into 1MDB that claimed that the $700 million moved among 1MDB-linked government agencies, banks and entities, before ending up in Razak's accounts in five separate deposits.
Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail announced late Saturday that a special task force had conducted several raids at 1MDB, and its former subsidiary the Finance Ministry-owned SRC International, to secure some crucial documents.
The office issued a joint statement Tuesday with the Central Bank, police inspector-general and Anti-Corruption Commission saying that six bank accounts connected to the allegations had been frozen.
The premier has insisted that he has not taken funds for personal gain as alleged by political opponents, whether it is from debt-ridden 1MDB, SRC International or other entities.
Over the weekend, opposition parties had invited members of the ruling Barisan Nasional coalition and non-governmental organizations "disgusted with corruption" to join them for an emergency meeting in parliament.
Democratic Action Party leader Lim Kit Siang had said in a statement that the meeting would "consider the impact, implications and Malaysia's future as a result of the WSJ allegation and the Attorney-General's confirmation on the existence of document from a government special task force probe."
The spokesperson for Tuesday's gathering, Sungai Petani constituency lawmaker Johari Abdul, expressed the opposition's request that Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin take over as acting premier while Razak goes on leave.
He said opposition MPs would demand an emergency parliamentary lower house sitting, which should also be attended by Attorney-General Pattail and Central Bank Governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.
"There is so much conflicting news so they must come and clarify this to Parliament. We also want the AG [Attorney-General] to show us the investigation papers as he has already sighted them," Abdul stressed.
Human rights activist Ambiga €ŽSreenevasan told reporters after the gathering that opposition lawmakers should exert efforts to prepare a written document and to meet Razak to advise him to take leave immediately.
"The prime minister €Žhas to go on leave. Opposition leaders should go and see him and ask him to do so," she said.
"There are ongoing investigations and you will never get an impartial probe if he is still the prime minister."
Sreenevasan stressed the need for a unity government between the ruling party and opposition for the time being, until Razak calls for fresh elections.
She added that while the idea would be "hard to chew" for the government, such a move would be crucial for the country as the current crisis impacted it socially, economically and politically.
A snap election proposal was also seconded by Lim Guan Eng, chief minister of northern Penang state, who said the government must immediately allow the Malaysian people to decide their preferred leadership.
"The Prime Minister has been accused of getting RM2.2 billion worth of funds into his accounts weeks before the 13th General Election," he said. "If that was the case, it means the last election had been smeared by elements of corruption."
Lim demanded that a snap election be held after the special task force completes its investigation.
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