VLOG: Malaysia PM pressed: Where did the money go?

PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia – Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak was pressed to answer questions about a major fund scandal during an anti-corruption conference he was supposed to address.

At the summit in Putrajaya, the head of the global watchdog Transparency International says Najib can no longer ignore questions about the $700 million that ended up in his personal bank accounts.

Ayee Macaraig reports. 

It’s the irony of ironies as Malaysia hosts the world’s largest anti-corruption conference here in the political capital of Putrajaya.

Prime Minister Najib Razak is nowhere to deliver a planned keynote address as he faces allegations 700 million dollars from the state investment fund 1MDB ended up in his personal back accounts before the 2013 general election.

Instead, he sends a minister from his department who outlines Malaysia’s graft-busting efforts.

Minister Paul Low glosses over the controversy but there’s no evading Malaysia’s biggest political scandal. 

PAUL LOW, MINISTER IN MALAYSIA PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT: You have a meeting of activists, fearless activists, all right? So the issue is how is the reception to him. Because of this, therefore, we advised him that in terms of the security, atmosphere, it’s best that I go and that’s why I’m delivering the keynote address today. 

The global watchdog Transparency International organizes the conference along with the Malaysian government.

But the group’s leadership calls out Najib for failing to answer questions on the debt-ridden and allegedly mismanaged state fund.

1MDB was meant to help Malaysia become a high-income economy.

JOSE UGAZ, CHAIR, TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL: There are two questions that need to be answered: Who paid the money and why? Where did it go? One man could answer those questions.

If that does not happen then only a fully independent investigation, free from political interference, can uncover the truth. Until that happens, no claim from the government on anti-corruption will be credible.

The 1MDB scandal threw Malaysia into political and economic uncertainty as Najib refuses to take accountability.  

Anti-corruption advocates attending this conference support the thousands of Malaysians who took to the streets this weekend to call for a clean government.

They say a citizenry that demands strong institutions and transparent policies will give life to the summit’s theme to end impunity for corruption.

Ayee Macaraig, Rappler, Malaysia. – Rappler.com