COMMENT Even the most seasoned and acute political observer would be baffled by the way things are developing on the Malaysian political, legal and administrative fronts.

What started as a honest investigation to ascertain the source of funds deposited in Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak private bank accounts, estimated to be around RM2.6 billion, has turned into something nasty and ugly.

The appointment of a special task force comprising the heads of the police, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC), Bank Negara and the Attorney-General’s Chambers has spiralled out of control.

The focus is now not on those behind the 1MDB scandal, but on who leaked the information to the public and the mass media. In the words of DAP leader Lim Kit Siang, the “hunters” have now become the “hunted”.

Such a dangerous move seems to throw the spanners in the works of various agencies that are bent doing justice. Recent police investigations against the MACC personnel have negated the professionalism of these agencies and the public trust in them.

Apparently, the police are now being counted upon by Umno leaders aligned with the Najib, who is also their party president, to do the “dirty work” of putting the house in order.

Initially many Malaysians were probably quite pleased that the government’s special task force would be able to investigate allegations of wrong-doing on the part of Najib in connection with the 1MDB funds.

However, to the dismay of many, now the tables are turned in favour of Najib. Alternatively, the MACC is being investigated for information leaks about the 1MDB and what led to the alleged preparation of the charge sheet on Najib by Abdul Gani Patail, the former attorney-general.

Mysterious forces behind the police probe

With the cabinet reshuffle resulting in the removal of Muhyiddin Yassin as deputy prime minister and three other ministers, the removal of Gani and the promotion of former Public Accounts Committee (PAC)  chairperson Nur Jazlan Mohamed, the so-called information leak has become the primary focus of the police investigations.

With police probing into the affairs of the MACC, the task force has been reduced to shambles, without any role in investigating the allegations against Najib. 

Some mysterious forces are behind the police probe into the conduct of the MACC officers. But it is clear that such a focus is meant to “clear” the name of Najib from any wrongdoing!

To date, MACC's special operations director, a deputy public prosecutor (DPP), its former adviser, and two officers have been hauled by the police for interrogation. One has been arrested and other three have been released after being grilled.

The investigation is not about money in Najib’s private accounts, but who was responsible for leaking the information to the public. It is also about the flow of RM42 million from SRC, via Gandingan Menteri and Ikhsan Perdana.

The cabinet reshuffle, removal of ministers, removal of the former attorney-general and the recent investigation into the conduct of certain MACC officers are all about shifting the blame for the 1MDB scandal from Najib to others.

Hunters are relentlessly being pursued

The “official script” prepared and marketed by Umno sources is that funds in Najib’s accounts are from private political donations. And that there is nothing wrong to receive funds for political purposes!

The “hunters” are relentlessly being pursued. The end game is clear. The name of Najib must be cleared at all costs!

Urban Wellbeing, Housing and Local Government Minister Abdul Rahman Dahlan and newly appointed Minister in the PM’s Department Azlina Othman are orchestrating this new line.

Rahman is quite vociferous on this matter. He has gone one step further in criticising the opposition parties for receiving political donations and yet make noise if Umno leaders receive the same.

One or two MACC officers who were detained for questioning have raised the issue as to why the police are after them.

They suspect that without the "directive" from the top, the police would not question them.

Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar ( photo ) himself said that there is a possibility that Bank Negara officers might also be investigated for the leaks on the 1MDB.

Najib thinks that he is clever and that by using public agencies to save his own skin, he might escape unscathed. It is plainly obvious that the police are being used and manipulated to save the skin of one man and this happens to be the prime minister of the country.

The police are being used to destroy whatever good that could emanate from the functioning of the task force ostensibly formed to investigate Najib.

Now, the 1MDB task force is in tatters and the investigating agencies, instead of acting together to nab the culprits involved in the 1MDB scandal, are after one another’s throats.

P RAMASAMY is Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang and the state assemblyperson for Perai.

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