Rahman Dahlan to DAP: accept that 1MDB rationalisation is successful

(The Star) – A Barisan Nasional lawmaker has accused the Opposition of preventing the 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s rationalisation plan from succeeding so that they can continue to use the issue for political mileage.

Barisan strategic director Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan said although 1MDB had taken effective measures to reduce its debts, the Opposition kept questioning its efforts and make accusations in an attempt to keep the issue alive.

He singled out Petaling Jaya Utara MP Tony Pua, who he said had gone on another “rampage of recycled allegations” including accusing 1MDB president and chief executive officer Arul Kanda Kandasamy of covering up billions in losses.

“I have always held the suspicion that the Opposition had never wanted the 1MDB rationalisation to succeed. Perhaps they wanted to go against the nation’s  interest and wanted the plan to fail so that they can continue to use it as their political capital,” said Abdul Rahman.

He said Pua also continued to mislead the public, accusing 1MDB of paying “dirt cheap prices” of RM1.6bil and RM192mil for Bandar Malaysia and Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) land respectively.

“He has left out the part that on top of the cash purchase price, 1MDB is contractually obligated to build and deliver eight military bases in five states for a contract value of RM2.7bil and can only take vacant delivery of the land after the completion of these bases,” said Abdul Rahman.

He said 1MDB was also obligated to spend RM3bil on resettlement and infrastructure costs for inside and outside TRX.

He criticised Pua for implying that Tabung Haji had overpaid for the land purchased at TRX when the fact was that it paid the lowest price by far.

Abdul Rahman also questioned Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng’s instruction to the state local authorities to block the sale of 1MDB’s RM1.3bil land when it had no problems approving the company’s purchase of the same land in 2013 and collected various fees from the land transfer.

“To me, this is a clear case of sabotage of 1MBD’s rationalisation efforts. I urge DAP to stop playing the political game and accept the fact that 1MDB under Arul Kanda has been successful in its rationalisation efforts,” he said.