Cabinet members fully back PM
(The Star) – Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has the support of his Cabinet members who said they will not pressure him to step down over the 1MDB controversy.
“The Cabinet members are all behind Najib in facing the issue,” said Agriculture and Agro-based Industries Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.
The Prime Minister had explained to the Cabinet his move to demand an explanation from The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) over its July 3 article implying that 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) funds were transferred into his personal accounts.
All ministers were at the Cabinet meeting except for Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai and Datuk Dr Wee Ka Siong.
Liow, the Transport Minister is overseas on official duty while Dr Wee, a Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, is recovering from an operation last month.
Ismail said several ministers gave Najib their feedback.
“Ministers from Sabah and Sarawak also spoke on behalf of their parties and reiterated their support for Najib.
“The investigation is still ongoing and Cabinet members saw no reason to pressure Najib to step down,” he said after distributing bubur lambuk to his staff at the ministry here.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Cabinet members were not putting any pressure on Najib.
“A task force, consisting of the Attorney-General, the police, Bank Negara and the MACC (Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission) is still investigating the matter,” said Khairy, after the handing-over ceremony of the third Perdana Fellowship Programme at the Prime Minister’s Office here yesterday.
Najib is facing calls, especially from the opposition, to go on leave pending the probe.
The Prime Minister, who launched the event, left immediately after the function ended.
In a statement, Najib said: “The Wall Street Journal’s aim is to incite malice and this is backed by certain quarters in the country whose aim is to make me step down as Prime Minister and Umno president.”
In KUALA LUMPUR, Mara chairman Tan Sri Annuar Musa said there was no need for the Prime Minister to be relieved of his duties pending investigations.
“Imagine if someone has a bad motive or a hidden agenda and makes an allegation,” he told a press conference at Mara headquarters.
Annuar added that Najib’s situation could not be compared to Mara’s decision to relieve the chairman of Mara Inc Datuk Mohammad Lan Allani and its chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Halim Rahim after it was reported that the subsidiary had bought property at inflated prices abroad.
