Guan Eng: I told Anwar exposés were done on Dr Mahathir’s instruction

It is Mahathir who instructed Guan Eng to reveal that Malaysia is going bankrupt 

(Malaysiakini) – Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng said today that his actions of revealing the previous administration’s financial scandals were done on the instruction of Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Lim was responding to de facto PKR leader Anwar Ibrahim, who said Lim’s position was ‘sensitive’, and suggested that he ask other ministers or the MACC to expose such scandals.

“This has been explained to Anwar, that the revelation of financial scandals involving 1MDB and other scandals in the media was done on the instruction of the prime minister. He understands this.

“I am not the prime minister, nor do I have the power to instruct other ministers to reveal financial scandals that fall within the ambit of the Finance Ministry.

“It is not my place to instruct a minister to reveal financial scandals of the previous government which happened in the Finance Ministry which I am in charge of,” he said in a statement today.

Anwar, a former finance minister himself, told Astro Awani earlier today that investors tend to look at what the finance minister says.

“But under the current situation, the minister also has the responsibility to talk about the various agreements and expose cheating (by the previous administration).

“He can assign this to one or two other ministers, or even the MACC to explain the exposé,” he had said.

Anwar’s input appreciated

Lim said he appreciated Anwar’s input and welcomed all views and feedback on saving the country’s economy.

The Bagan MP added that he had also met with Anwar several times to explain the state of the economy and the financial scandals involved to him.

Lim said the people had the right to know about the country’s real financial situation.

“The people do not want the government to hide the facts from them anymore. In my meeting with Anwar, he also agreed.

“My ministry will continue to expose all financial scandals in 100 days as instructed by the prime minister. We should have courage in the face of truth,” he added.

Lim said the finance ministry has also outlined a plan to cope with the country’s RM1 trillion debts and liabilities left behind by the previous government.