KUALA LUMPUR: The surprising disclosure in the Malaysian parliament that former Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked to be given home and land is estimated to be worth 100 million ringgit ($ 24 million) even though his graft belief has triggered a fierce reaction.
This problem was raised by former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, who questioned whether it was true that the government would approve Najib’s request as a gift for his term of office.
Najib served in 2009, but was overthrown in 2018 elections after public protests over a massive corruption scandal involving 1MdB state funds.
Finance Minister Zafrul Aziz confirmed the application of Najib but did not provide further details.
Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaatob has not commented on this problem.
Najib defended his request, said it was his right as a former country leader.
“The government gave me three land plots to be chosen, so I chose one.
…
housing was given to all former prime ministers,” he said.
He said the 100 million ringgit price tag was given by a website that was linked to his rival, and accused them of using this problem to tarnish his reputation and party ahead of Saturday’s local elections in the state of South Malacca.
If the Cabinet agreed to the request, the opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim said it would be “immoral and truly absurb” because Najib was punished and sentenced to 12 years in prison last year for grafts related to the 1MdB scandal and also tried for several other corruption cases bound by 1MdB.
Anwar, whose flags have a pact to support the government, with the rewards of reform, saying it has never been told about Najib’s request.
He warned in a statement on Thursday that the alique would be forced to review the pact with the government if approved.
Ismail was swept in August, marking the third government changes since the 2018 election after a series of political chaos that triggered the collapse of the previous administration.