Raub MP Ariff Sabri put forward three questions to Najib Razak in his capacity as the prime minister and finance minister, but all three were rejected.
“The Swiss attorney-general has said they have started a probe on the loss of RM4 billion from 1MDB. So, will the police start its own investigation and will the Malaysian attorney-general request for the investigation paper to be handed over to him?” Ariff asked as one of his questions.
However, the DAP lawmaker’s question was rejected through a letter which said “a question cannot contain matters which need an explanation from a foreign country.”
In his next question, Ariff urged the PM to reveal the identity of the RM2.6 billion donor. He said since the Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir has said the RM2.6 billion was an investment made by an individual and not by the country itself, Ariff asked: “Why did the investment go to the PM’s private account?”
In a letter rejecting his question, Ariff was told to direct the question to ministers who knew about the matter.
“How many countries and foreign authorities are investigating 1MDB and is the government planning to block these probes or spread the word that the government will sue these authorities,” Ariff asked in another question.
According to the written reply, the MP was told a question cannot contain “argument, perception, opinion, accusation, compliment, insult, confusing words, quip, hurting other people’s feelings or asking for an explanation on useless matters.”
Last year, the Wall Street Journal alleged that RM2.6 billion was channelled into Najib’s private bank accounts, and that the funds came from 1MDB. However, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) denied the allegation, saying the money was a donation.
Najib later revealed that the donation was given to him by “someone from the Middle East” to help him and Barisan Nasional win the last general election.