Lim Guan Eng
PUTRAJAYA: Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has explained that he made the disclosures on financial scandals such as that linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) as he was directed to do so by the Prime Minister.
“I am not the prime minister and have no power to instruct other ministers to expose financial scandals that come under my ministry’s purview,” he said in response to PKR de facto leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s comment during an interview with Astro Awani that he should focus on boosting investors’ confidence while leaving it to other ministries and government agencies to expose wrongdoings.
The DAP secretary-general said in a statement that he appreciated Anwar’s input and the people’s views and feedback on how to rescue the economy.
According to him, Anwar understands these scandals were disclosed to the media on the prime minister’s orders and also concurs that the people do not want the Government to hide the country’s real economic situation and financial status from them.
Thus, he said, his ministry would continue to expose all financial scandals within the new government’s first 100 days in office, as instructed by the prime minister.
“We must have the courage to stand up for truth,” he added.
Anwar had advised Lim to strike a balance between exposing scandals and instilling confidence among investors.
According to him, Lim should exercise caution when issuing statements as they could be used as reference points by investors.
Lim, who has met Anwar several times to explain about the economic situation and how the scandals had put a financial strain on the country, said the Federal Government’s fiscal position had been adversely impacted due to the debts of over RM1 trillion, as disclosed by the Prime Minister, following the 1MDB scandal and extravagant spending by the previous government.
Lim said the Finance Ministry had outlined alternative plans to manage the RM1 trillion debt via project postponements and savings in financial expenditure.
“These steps to spend prudently are being taken without worsening the budget deficit, which will remain at 2.8 per cent of the gross domestic product,” he added.
He also noted that he had met various investors and fund managers both locally and overseas to explain the country’s financial policy. — Bernama
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UPP disappointed over statement on CJ issue
KUCHING: United People’s Party (UPP) said it is disappointed with a comment by a writer using the pseudonym ‘Quo Vadis’ for criticising UPP and another party, UPKO of Sabah for saying that Tan Sri Richard Malanjum should be appointed the next Chief Justice (CJ) of Malaysia.
The party rejected the statement made by Quo Vadis that political parties are not entitled to raise such issues or that the judge involved would no longer be independent as a result of such issues being raised.
According to UPP through a press statement, the writer had stated: “It would avoid the unseeming (sic) and very unhealthy practice of having political parties like UPP and UPKO or Advocates Association of Sarawak being involved in publicly championing any judge for promotion.
“Even if this judge is promoted, his independence would have been gravely compromised and the Independence of the Judiciary would remain a myth as far as the public is concerned.”
“The writer is wrong on several counts. If there are a number of suitably qualified judges and we favour one, that would be wrong. We are not doing that.”
“Malanjum is the most senior and most qualified member of the Federal Court for the post of Chief Justice. But he is an East Malaysian.
“No East Malaysian has ever headed the Judiciary. We, together with many other parties, are speaking up for the rights of East Malaysia to be treated fairly and equally.”
As a Sarawak political party, it is their responsibility to raise any issue of concern to Sarawak, said UPP in the statement signed by secretary-general George Lo.
As the issue concerns the appointment of the top judge in the country, UPP said it saw nothing wrong just to point out that an East Malaysian judge is the most qualified judge to fill the post.
“What is wrong for East Malaysian political parties to speak up for East Malaysian rights, including the right of an East Malaysian to be appointed head of the judiciary? Are we to keep quiet and ignore the issue?”
In fact, politicians from Sarawak and Sabah, across the political divide, all called for Malanjum to be appointed Chief Justice, the party said.
“To suggest that he would be beholden only to UPP or UPKO is simply ridiculous. It is an insult to suggest (as the author did) that, just because political parties had called for his appointment as Chief Justice, Malanjum’s ‘independence would have been gravely compromised’. Such a statement is absolutely baseless.”
“Unfortunately, judges cannot rebut unwarranted public accusations such as these from an anonymous writer. We therefore reject the statement by Quo Vadis that political parties are not entitled to raise such issues or that the judge involved would no longer be independent as a result of such issues being raised,” said UPP.