In a move that many believe will backfire badly on Prime Minister Najib
Razak, his government arrested PKR strategy director Rafizi Ramli for
exposing financial details in alleged contravention of the Banking and
Financial Institutions Act.
Rafizi, a member of the PKR party led by Opposition Leader Anwar
Ibrahim, had in recent months exposed the RM250mil NFC corruption
debacle that led to the husband of former Women's minister Shahrizat
Jalil being charged for criminal breach of trust.
His red-hot revelations had the Umno-controlled media baying for his
blood and calling on the police to arrest him for allegedly breaching
banking confidentiality rules.
However, Rafizi and other leaders suspect the arrest was more to do with
the Ampang LRT deal in which a crony of Najib's was just awarded the
billion-ringgit contract despite being the least qualified tender
candidate in terms of experience and technical know-how.
"I am now arrested under the Banking and Financial Insitutions Act
(Bafia) and will be taken to court right now," Rafizi said on Twitter.
"My 1st reaction at being arrested: Damn GeorgeKent. @NajibRazak must
surely love his golf buddy to risk this public relations mess."
Also arrested was Johari Mohamad, a bank staff. It is believed that the
police will charge both men at 10am at the Shah Alam High Court.
Corruption and the Scorpenes link
Rafizi
had also accused Najib of using George Kent Bhd, a firm run by his
close friend Tan Kay Hock, to obtain the Ampang LRT deal and at the same
benefit Thales, a European conglomerate also participating in the
tender and on allegedly preferential terms.
DCNS is the vendor of 2 Scorpene submarines ordered by Najib in a deal
estimated to be worth at least RM7.3 bil and in which Najib is accused
of accepting a bribe from DCNS to seal.
DCNS is now on trial in the French courts for allegedly paying illicit
kickbacks to Malaysian officials including Najib worth at least RM570mil
or 114mil euros.
Apart from Thales, Rafizi had also unraveled a chain of transactions and
scenarios alleging how George Kent stood to benefit from being the
middle-main in the deal. According to Rafizi, George Kent would farm out
the contracts and earn commission from these. Thales would also be
amongst the main beneficiaries.
The PKR leader had made his revelations even before George Kent was
confirmed as the tender winner. Najib had denied his allegations but
Rafizi then revealed the minutes of a meeting held by the Finance
ministry's procurement unit. The minutes showed Najib - who is also
Finance minister - had personally chaired the meeting that approved
George Kent for the deal.
Shock at how the whistle blower is punished and not the wrongdoer
Meanwhile, civil society leaders and prominent citizens expressed shock at Najib's "desperate" move.
"The nation is watching! We stand by those brave enough to expose
wrongdoing and condemn those who suppress the truth!" Ambiga
Sreenevasan, the co-chairman of the Bersih movement for clean polls,
said on Twitter.
"We knew it was coming but why the sudden rushed timing. Was it
coincidental with the George Kent news? This is Ramadan, a fasting ad
holy month to observe restrian and righteousness," PAS MP for Kuala Selangor Dzulkefly Ahmad told Malaysia Chronicle.
"But Umno seems so desperate it is committing blunder after blunder. We
also note that such hypocritical action is coming from Najib who has
been promising reforms and a clean government."
Malaysia Chronicle
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