The Pejuang chairman says this is more than a conflict of interest as it is also an organised crime to loot the property of the country and its people

by S BIRRUNTHA/ TMRpic

FORMER Prime Minister (PM) Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad (picture) has called for an investigation to be made against Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali whether he had decided to clean up 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) first because of his relationship with fugitive businessman Low Taek Jho (Jho Low).

The Pejuang chairman said this is more than a conflict of interest as it is also an organised crime to loot the property of the country and its people.

He reiterated that this involves not only Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Razak and Jho Low, but also Mohamed Apandi.

“The government has a responsibility to investigate because there is an element of collusion and complicity by Mohamed Apandi and to ensure that the ‘national bandits’ are tried and punished,” he said in a statement today.

Dr Mahathir said news reports that Mohamed Apandi acted as a middle man for Jho Low are shocking.

He added that when Mohamed Apandi was the Attorney General (AG), the latter’s PM was Najib.

Dr Mahathir said Mohamed Apandi’s stand came at a time when several foreign countries had taken action against banks and private individuals involved in the 1MDB crime.

“Because of that, when Pakatan Harapan took over the government, Mohamed Apandi’s service was not extended because of his failure to carry out the trust and responsibilities of the country when he directly cleaned up 1MDB,” he noted.

Apart from that, Dr Mahathir also pointed out that Mohamed Apandi’s actions are clearly defending the crimes committed by Najib and his allies.

He added that judges of the High Court and the appellate court have found that there was criminal conduct in 1MDB and sentenced Najib to jail.

“Mohamed Apandi should feel guilty and sorry for his stance in blocking 1MDB’s crime from being brought to court.

“Now, he is willing to be a mediator for Jho Low to get a solution and is reportedly paying the Malaysian government RM1.5 billion.

“This means Jho Low is guilty. If he is not guilty, why offer money to settle the action against him?” he questioned

Dr Mahathir emphasised that once again, Malaysians have been persecuted by Mohamed Apandi and Jho Low by offering a solution of such a small amount for the theft of tens of billions of ringgit.

He said Mohamed Apandi’s actions of conspiring with Jho Low are very suspicious and that Jho Low’s willingness to pay for settlement proves that he pleaded guilty.

“Mohamed Apandi should regret taking wages (I do not believe he did Jho Low’s middleman work for free) from the 1MDB criminals whom he had freed earlier.

“Here arises the suspicion that Mohamed Apandi’s collaboration with Jho Low had begun while he was the AG,” he said.