PETALING JAYA: An academic has urged the finance ministry to present evidence to support its allegation that a Chinese state-owned enterprise laundered money in a scheme to pay off debts incurred by 1MDB.
Speaking to FMT, Ngeow Chow Bing of Universiti Malaya’s Institute of China Studies noted that the company, China Petroleum Pipeline Company (CPPC), has denied the claim.
He said the denial made it necessary for Malaysia to make a strong case for the claim and to do so with diplomatic tact.
He also advised against trying to iron out the matter in the full glare of the media.
“The common diplomatic practice is to discuss such matters behind closed doors,” he said.
The allegation has come mainly from Tony Pua, a senior aide to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Last week, CPPC issued a media statement denying that funds for its two pipeline projects in Malaysia were used to pay 1MDB debts.
“We wish to make it very clear that all funds from Export-Import Bank of China were only paid directly to CPPC’s bank accounts,” it said.
Ngeow said it was important to keep the channels of communication open. “We must present our case in good faith and see why CPPC’s version differs,” he added.
Pacific Research Centre principal adviser Oh Ei Sun said he didn’t believe Pua would make the allegation if he couldn’t provide proof.
“So it’s best to produce the evidence,” he said.
He also said he didn’t believe the issue would put Putrajaya-Beijing relations at risk because China appeared keen to continue trading with Malaysia.
Yesterday, former prime minister Najib Razak told FMT for the second time that he believed Pua had lied.
Speaking to FMT, Ngeow Chow Bing of Universiti Malaya’s Institute of China Studies noted that the company, China Petroleum Pipeline Company (CPPC), has denied the claim.
He said the denial made it necessary for Malaysia to make a strong case for the claim and to do so with diplomatic tact.
He also advised against trying to iron out the matter in the full glare of the media.
“The common diplomatic practice is to discuss such matters behind closed doors,” he said.
The allegation has come mainly from Tony Pua, a senior aide to Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng.
Last week, CPPC issued a media statement denying that funds for its two pipeline projects in Malaysia were used to pay 1MDB debts.
“We wish to make it very clear that all funds from Export-Import Bank of China were only paid directly to CPPC’s bank accounts,” it said.
Ngeow said it was important to keep the channels of communication open. “We must present our case in good faith and see why CPPC’s version differs,” he added.
Pacific Research Centre principal adviser Oh Ei Sun said he didn’t believe Pua would make the allegation if he couldn’t provide proof.
“So it’s best to produce the evidence,” he said.
He also said he didn’t believe the issue would put Putrajaya-Beijing relations at risk because China appeared keen to continue trading with Malaysia.
Yesterday, former prime minister Najib Razak told FMT for the second time that he believed Pua had lied.
Wakakakaka……
ReplyDeleteLet the cash audit traces be declared first lah!
Lagi, the investigations r still on going. Only those in the loop know the in&out.
Who is Hao Seow, will soon be reveal when the Chinese puts the cards on the table.
That academician's general comments r golden feed to kt's fake new mill!
Of course China Petroleum Pipeline Company would deny it.... else they could be hot soup.
ReplyDeleteThe penalty for Corruption in China, unless you have official protection, is very serious. Firing squad serious.
Cannot forget the picture of all those Chinese officials from China during the contract signing ceremony with Ahjib and his merry men.
ReplyDeleteIt's a very high stakes game if found guilty of collaborating in some corruption scandal for the penalty is Death by Firing Squad in China. Unlike their Malaysian counterparts who might just be fined or jailed if found involved.
Nowadays, it can be quite lucrative to be paid writers, commentators or critics to sway public opinion towards such big corruption cases. The bigger the corruption scandals, the bigger the paycheck for hired mercenaries work.
Do you think Tony Pua gets paid for saying things which may send those Chinese officials to the Firing Squad back home?
Or do you think when life is on the line, some would do anything to pay mercenaries to get them off the hook?