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Rulers’ statement on 1MDB not interference, says Dr Mahathir

The Malay rulers' statement on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was not an interference in Putrajaya's governance, but a response in light of public dissatisfaction with the speed of the probe into the troubled firm, said Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. The former prime minister said the rulers had expressed their views because they took note of the public's worries and distrust over Putrajaya's explanations on the scandal surrounding the state investment vehicle. "That's why the Malay rulers requested the government to answer the questions raised by the people. "The Malay rulers gave their views and this does not mean they are interfering with government's administration, but when the people ask their rulers through demonstrations and others because they are not getting the response from the government, they request their rulers to state their dissatisfaction towards the government," he told reporters after attending the "Impact of economic issues on Malaysian workers" forum by the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE). On Tuesday, the Malay rulers issued a statement asking Putrajaya to complete investigations related to 1MDB as soon as possible and to take "the appropriate stern action" against all found to be implicated. They also said that all concerned should extend "real and sincere" cooperation for the investigation to achieve its objectives. "The findings of the investigation must be reported comprehensively and in a transparent manner so that the people will be convinced of the sincerity of the government which shall not at all conceal facts and the truth," said the statement which was released by the Keeper of the Rulers' Seal, Datuk Seri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, after the pre-council meeting of the Conference of Rulers at Istana Negara. A few government ministers however played down the statement, saying that it was welcomed and had been noted. Dr Mahathir said today Putrajaya should address the people’s concerns and worries surrounding the 1MDB saga. “I think the government should respond (and) not talk about division of power between the sultans or rajas and the elected government. “People now, they try to complain, try to report to the police but all of them are rejected so they have no means of trying to get the government to listen to them,” he added. The rulers’ statement comes as 1MDB sits on a RM42 billion debt, and also amid allegations that some state funds were transferred into Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s personal accounts. Najib has so far spurned calls for him to resign while investigations are under way on the issue. A few days ago, former deputy prime minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said that the onus was on Najib to solve the 1MDB issue as soon as possible while Najib’s critics, led by Dr Mahathir, had demanded that he resign. – October 10, 2015.