Tun
Dr Mahathir Mohamad warned Bank Negara Malaysia today that it could be
found guilty of trying to conceal 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s (1MDB)
“lies”.
This
follows the central bank's refusal to reveal details of a report it
received from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) about an account
connected to 1MDB in BSI Bank Ltd.
“Regarding
Bank Negara’s refusal to provide information on the report from MAS, if
it is found to be protecting lies about 1MDB’s money that is said to be
in Singapore, then this is also a crime under the country’s laws,”
wrote the former prime minister in his blog chedet.cc.
On
Tuesday, Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar Aziz said they had
received information from the MAS about 1MDB’s account in BSI Bank, but
refused to divulge details, citing confidentiality.
"The
international community would not cooperate with us (in the future) if
we release the information that was extended to us," she was quoted as
saying by Malaysiakini.
She said revealing the information would "stop all investigations if we talk about it".
Zeti
also cited confidentiality requirements when asked about claims that
1MDB's account at BSI Bank did not contain cash redeemed from its Cayman
Islands investment.
Whistleblower
website Sarawak Report said in April that 1MDB issued false bank
statements pertaining to its subsidiary, Brazen Sky Ltd's accounts in
BSI Bank in Singapore.
Citing information it had received, the website said the bank told MAS the document did not originate from them.
Dr
Mahathir today also hit out at the authorities’ “refusal” to take
action on the police reports lodged over 1MDB’s “vanished funds”.
“Instead,
the person who lodges the police report is made a bankrupt, his house
is seized and he is investigated for allegedly funding terrorism,” said
Dr Mahathir, referring to sacked Umno leader Datuk Seri Khairuddin Abu
Hassan.
He said it was “saddening” that preferential treatment existed in criminal investigations.
“There
are journalists who are arrested under the Sedition Act, only to be
released because they have committed no crime. I, too, was often raided
by the Inland Revenue department when I owned a medical clinic,” said Dr
Mahathir.
He
added that civil servants living beyond their means were often probed,
yet no action was taken against ministers and “certain civilians” whose
lavish lifestyle was public knowledge.
“Malaysians
are subject to the same laws. There should be no favouritism and
discrimination in upholding the law,” said Dr Mahathir.
Criticism
has been mounting over the Finance Ministry wholly owned investment
vehicle, established in 2009, which has chalked up debts of up to RM42
billion, backed by Putrajaya.
The
Auditor-General is currently looking through 1MDB's books, with a
preliminary report expected to be submitted to the Parliament in June,
while Public Accounts Committee started its investigation into the
company on May 19.
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