2017 - former BN adviser said he finds it hard to believe Nor Mohamed did not get a direct order from then-(1990)-PM Mahathir

Act on ‘bombshell’ leaked MACC report, PM told

Puad Zarkashi of Umno has called for action on an alleged leaked copy of an MACC report which implicates former central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

PETALING JAYA: The prime minister, attorney-general and law minister have been urged to act following the publishing of an alleged report by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on a RM2.6 billion deposit in Najib Razak’s bank account in 2012.

Umno Supreme Council member Puad Zarkashi said the details in the 14-page document were a “bombshell”. Failure by the authorities to take action could lead to a trust deficit.

UK-based blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin published details of the alleged report, known as “Laporan Kes Ambank”, which he said proved former central bank governor Zeti Akhtar Aziz knew and gave consent for the RM2.6 billion to be brought into the country.

The RM2.6 billion deposit – which former prime minister Najib said was a donation from the Saudi royal family – became the subject of controversy and subsequent action against Najib.

Nor Mohamed Yakcop, a former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, is also mentioned in the leaked report. He is alleged to have had RM85 million, related to a 2009 1MDB Sukuk offering, in a proxy account in Singapore.

Puad said the report also reveals the MACC’s recommendations to the government on the matter.

“The question is, were those recommendations implemented comprehensively or selectively. The public wants to know.

“It also raises questions over the consistency and credibility of witness statements in the SRC and 1MDB trials.”

Puad said the issue must no longer be manipulated for political expediency and that those involved must be brought to justice.

Last month, the MACC said it has to date, managed to recover assets and funds linked to 1MDB amounting to RM20.5 billion, including the return of assets worth US$15.4 million (RM64.4 million) from a company co-owned by Tawfiq Ayman, Zeti’s husband, who is a witness in Najib’s 1MDB trial.

Former AG Tommy Thomas recently claimed that Zeti and Tawfiq had “facilitated” Low Taek Jho, who is better known as Jho Low. In a recent interview, Thomas said that to his “knowledge” the investigation papers had “not been completed on Zeti and all the others”.

But Raja Petra said that according to the MACC report, it had been completed in 2019, before Thomas stepped down as AG.

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Bank Negara foreign exchange losses due to the lack of responsibility and abuse of trust

[September 11, 2017]

"He must have been given the fullest possible authority to 'intervene' in the market without restraint,” Abdul Aziz said. NSTP file pic

PETALING JAYA: Former Bank Negara Malaysia assistant governor Tan Sri Nor Mohamed Yakcop appears to be protecting Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his testimony in the on going Royal Commission of Inquiry on the foregn exchange losses in the 1990s, claims Tunku Abdul Aziz.

The former Bank Negara adviser said he finds it hard to believe Nor Mohamed, who told the inquiry, did not get a direct order from Mahathir who was then the prime minister.

"He must have been given the fullest possible authority to 'intervene' in the market without restraint,” Abdul Aziz said.

"That authority to break all known rules had to come from the governor as it is inconceivable that Mahathir as Prime Minister then would have given Nor Mohamed a direct order.

"Even so, his instructions had to come from the governor. (But) the governor would not have dared to act unilaterally without the tacit approval of the Prime Minister," he said in a press conference here.

Abdul Aziz said the trading losses happened due to the lack of responsibility and attitude that did not respect the trust given.

"This I'm referring to the fact that there was an abuse of trust. The attitude of not respecting trust had encouraged this scandal,” Abdul Aziz said.

In his testimony Nor Mohamed had confirmed that forex losses happened under his watch and that the central bank paid a steep price for trading in foreign currencies in the early 1990s.

He admitted BNM had “misread the market” and took “full accountability” for the losses.

“The forex losses happened. There is no denying it. There is also no denying of my accountability for the forex losses. I accepted my fair share of accountability for the forex losses and resigned from BNM,” he had said.