ABC Four Corners Releases Besser's Video Documentary Of Malaysia's Political Scandals
The video compiles all the complicated puzzles that form a very disturbing picture of Malaysia's law enforcement system.
By Nandini Balakrishnan — 29 Mar 2016, 08:26 PM
Dubbed as one of the biggest kleptocracy cases ever by Sarawak Report's Clare Rewcastle Brown, the 1MDB saga has gained a great deal of international attention, with America and Switzerland running official investigations on the issue
On 14 August 2015, Switzerland's Office of the Attorney-General (OAG) confirmed that they have opened an investigation against 1MDB.
Just months later, in late January 2016, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Swiss authorities revealed that about USD4 billion may have been misappropriated from Malaysian state-owned companies and they are currently probing into four separate cases of criminal conduct.
Following suit, American law enforcement organisation, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has reportedly launched an investigation of money laundering linked to the 1MDB fund, as reported by the Wall Street Journal.
In a latest exposé involving the 1MDB state-owned fund, Australian broadcasting agency, ABC's current affairs program, Four Corners has published a documentary covering an array of Malaysian scandals, all leading to PM Najib Razak and his alleged involvement in a number of criminal acts
Popularised locally by a recent incident involving the arrest of its journalist and photographer, Linton Besser and Louis Eroglu for questioning Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak about the "hundreds of millions of dollars in his account", ABC's latest Four Corners episode is dedicated to Malaysia's most controversial issue to date, 1MDB.
The 44 minutes and 16 seconds documentary titled 'State of Fear: Murder and Money in Malaysia', was reported by journalist Linton Besser and aired yesterday, 28 March at 8:30pm.
The State of Fear documentary strives to connect an intricate web of highly-sensitive information about the gruesome murder of Mongolian national, Altantuya Shaariibuu, public prosecutor Kevin Morais, and the billion dollar funds misappropriation
In the video, Besser has interviewed a number people, including public prosecutor Kevin's brother, Charles Morais, Sarawak Report's Clare Rewcastle Brown, former Malaysian legal affairs minister Zaid Ibrahim, activist Fahmi Reza, DAP's Tony Pua, former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad, Central Bank Governor Zeti Aziz, assassinated Ambank founder Hussain Najadi's son, Pascal Najadi, anti-corruption campaigner Cynthia Gabriel, and former senior UMNO member Khairuddin Hassan.
While the contents of the video may come as no major surprise for Malaysians, the true impact of the video comes from the compilation of crimes involving the very politicians that pledged to lead the nation into a better tomorrow
Most people Besser spoke to, have reiterated their statements and thoughts on the financial scandals and murders, but it is the collective effect of the information that reveals the seriousness of the situation Malaysia is tangled in.
Watch the full video of ABC Four Corner's State of Fear here.
The video ended on an ambiguous note, with Clare Rewcastle Brown questioning the state of democracy in Malaysia and saying that "there is an atmosphere of total terror" here
Meanwhile, ABC reported today that HRH Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud sent a letter dated 1 November 2011 to PM Najib Razak, titled 'Recognition of Significant Contribution To The Islamic World'
The letter from HRH Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud to Prime Minister Najib Razak
Image via ABC Four CornersThese deposits were sometimes accompanied by letters to Mr Najib from a man described in the letter as "HRH Prince Saud Abdulaziz Al-Saud" which pledged gifts to the Malaysian Prime Minister which ranged from USD100 million on February 1, 2011, to USD800 million on March 1, 2013.
On November 2, 2011, for example, the letter pledged a grant of $US375 million, saying:
1) "This is merely a token gesture on my part but it is my way of contributing to the development of Islam to the world.
2) "You shall have absolute discretion to determine how the Gift shall be utilised.
3)"This letter is issued as a gesture of good faith and for clarification, I do not expect to receive any personal benefit whether directly or indirectly as a result of the Gift. The Gift should not in any event be construed as an act of corruption since this is against the practice of Islam and I personally do not encourage such practices in any manner whatsoever."