As posted by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad at Che Det on May 31, 2017
1. A personal letter to his friends by Tan Sri Dato Seri Paduka Lee Kim Yew has gone viral.
2. It is a sad story; a story of the depths to which the Government of Malaysia, it’s Prime Minister and civil servants have sunk. It is about daylight robbery in which tax is levied on money without legitimate reason, in which a willingness to pay the tax was basically rejected after many negotiations in which LHDN (Inland Revenue Board) has agreed on the terms but subsequently reneged on it’s agreements, in which money earned through legitimate business in the savings of the victim was labelled as money obtained through criminal acts and the victim is to be charged under AMLA, Anti Money Laundering Act for trying to launder money. Under AMLA, the victim can be arrested, detained and charged in a court of law. In the meantime the savings, all RM126 million would have been seized by LHDN.
3. This money will no doubt become a part of Government revenue and will be spent by the Government. If later it is found that the victim had not done any money laundering and the money should be returned, the Government will have used all this money for free while the victim would lose earning on fixed deposit. The Government will of course not pay any interest on the money it detained. Recovery would take years.
4. There are very many instances where wrongful taxes are levied and threats of black listing or seizure of passports are made. We read about companies and individuals being asked to pay back – taxes in the tens and even hundreds of millions. There did not seem to be documentary proofs of the amount of taxes owed. But nevertheless they are harassed into admitting and paying. It seems to be a way for Najib’s Government to raise funds and to prevent the opposition parties from getting funding for the election.
5. But with regard to the RM2.6 billion in Najib’s account, no investigations are made as to money laundering being done by him. Yet the Dept of Justice of America has stated clearly that the money was stolen from 1MDB. Claiming that it is a gift from the Arabs is clearly an attempt to legitimise the source i.e. Najib should not be charged with money laundering.
6. The A.G. acting as judge as well as Public Prosecutor has passed judgement on what is believed to be criminal reports involving 1MDB and the money in Najib’s personal private accounts. He declared there is no evidence of wrongdoings by Najib. And then the A.G. placed the reports under the Official Secrets Act. Now not only can the public have no access to the reports but may not quote from the reports even if they have read them without risking being charged under the OSA.
7. Usually it is the people who try to flout the law. Now we see in Malaysia the Government and in particular the Prime Minister blatantly flouting the law.
8. When the custodians of the law flouts the law, the people can do nothing. Reports against the Government could just be dismissed. The courts will not hear the charges. There will be no judgements. The criminals will remain free to commit more crimes.
9. Some people say I destroyed democracy. They must be glad of Najib’s restoration of democracy.
10. Quo Vadis Malaysia.
