Critic to Najib: Become family minister instead

Khairuddin says baseless statements by PM and 1MDB boss won't fool public.

PETALING JAYA: The Umno divisional leader who is 1MDB’s fiercest critic has laughed off as “baseless” statements by prime minister Najib Razak in a television interview about the government-owned investment company, and suggested that Najib give up the finance ministry.

“The rakyat knows better,” said Khairuddin Abu Hassan, the Umno Batu Kawan division Vice Chairman who has filed reports with the police and the anti-corruption agency on 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s management of its funds.

Speaking to FMT, Khairuddin was critical of Najib Razak’s interview with TV3 on the programme “Soal Jawab” on Wednesday, noting that the Prime Minister made no reference to the government’s guarantee of 1MDB’s loans.

Najib had told TV3 that 1MDB’s current assets amounted to RM50 billion which included prime land in its land banks, and that the government’s commitment to the company was only RM1 million in the form of shares.

“With a paid-up capital of RM1 million, it’s not possible that 1MDB currently has RM50 billion in assets,” Khairuddin said. “That’s a really baseless statement.” He urged Najib, who is Finance Minister, to present the correct facts.

Khairuddin said 1MDB was not transparent about its affairs and that Najib and 1MDB’s management were unwilling to speak in much depth about the company.

He criticised 1MDB chairman Lodin Wok Kamaruddin for stating that the company had nothing to do with the government or the rakyat.

“That’s another baseless statement,” he said, adding that it contradicted media reports that 1MDB was fully owned by the Finance Ministry.

He also said the people were fed-up with Najib’s answers and visibly unhappy with him in regard to 1MDB.

He urged Najib to quit as Finance Minister, saying he had no knowledge of even the basics of economics. “I say in all sincerity that Najib should resign as Finance Minister and take up another portfolio, such as Minister for Rural Development or Minister of Women, Family and Community Development,” he said.