Malaysia PM told to take a break by party deputy leader

By P Prem Kumar

KUALA LUMPUR

Days before Malaysia's embattled prime minister attempts to sew up his authority at a party meeting, a former deputy has asked him to temporarily step down for a probe to be completed into $700 million discovered in his accounts and mass losses at a state-owned investment vehicle.

Former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin stated overnight that Najib Razak cannot remain in power while agencies under his administration investigate him.

On Thursday, Razak is to address some 2,500 grassroots members of his ruling United Malaysia National Organisation (UMNO) at a party conference.

The donation and probe into 1MDB, which Razak created in 2009 as a strategic wealth fund, are expected to be widely raised by delegates during the four-day meet.

Yassin, who is also UMNO deputy president, said late Monday night that Razak should allow the probe to be independent and that would only be possible if he takes temporary leave.

"Once the investigations are over, become the PM again. This is what the people want. If there's nothing wrong, come back,” he said Monday before a 1,000 strong crowd at a prominent club in the capital, where UMNO is said to have been formed.

Yassin said as deputy chief of UMNO he does not want issues surrounding the donation or 1MDB to drag on until the 2018 vote.

"I don't want this confidence crisis to continue until the elections. It will affect the party. People are angry with the problems that we are facing."

Yassin was sacked as deputy prime minister in a July cabinet reshuffle for being critical of Razak and his administration.

Since then, he has remained the UMNO deputy president, but his privileges within the party have been limited by Razak.

1MDB has amassed debts worth 42 billion Ringgit ($11.6 billion) in just six years of operations. The state investment vehicle was formed by Razak soon after he assumed premiership of the country.

Early July, international press reports claimed that billions of Ringgit were channelled from 1MDB into accounts belonging to Razak.

The Wall Street Journal and whistle blower site Sarawak Report released reports quoting documents from the ongoing 1MDB probe claiming the money moved among government agencies, banks and entities linked to 1MDB before finally ending up in the prime minister's personal accounts in five separate deposits.

Razak has stated that he has not swindled funds for personal gain as alleged by political opponents, be it from 1MDB, Finance Ministry-owned SRC International or other entities.

One month later, the Attorney-General Chambers claimed that the funds were political donations to the UMNO to help it win the May 2013 election.

Politicians within UMNO later clarified that the funds came from "Middle East Royals" who wanted UMNO to retain power.

Razak, however, has been silent on the matter, citing that political donations are confidential, and saying that he will only reveal donors names if opposition parties follow suit.