PKR Vice-President Tian Chua said Arul had proven himself to be a Barisan Nasional propagandist with his mere presence.
Speaking to FMT, Chua said Arul, as the head of the embattled state investment firm, should not appear to be siding with any political party, what more to defend them against any criticisms made during an election.
“Why would a CEO involve himself with a political event like these by-elections? It is really unprofessional for GLCs (government-linked companies) to do so.
“If he wants to explain the issues surrounding the fund, then he should go on television. All this while, he refused to have a debate on the subject and suddenly he turns up at a by-election.
“He has become a political propagandist.”
DAP lawmaker Lim Lip Eng said Arul’s presence at the event with civil servants in Sungai Besar yesterday morning was a breach of all professional ethics as he was supposed to be in business, not politics.
“He should defend 1MDB in a debate or an open seminar, not during a by-election campaign as that is utterly wrong. But obviously, Prime Minister Najib Razak is willing to do anything to win,” said the Segambut MP to FMT.
Amanah Communications Director Khalid Samad echoed the same sentiments, saying BN must have realised that 1MDB is its Archilles heel in the twin by-elections and is now attempting to dispel the public’s anger and fears.
Arul, at a dialogue session at the event organised by the Prime Minister’s Department, had said no funds from 1MDB were ever funnelled into Najib’s personal accounts.
To this, Khalid said Arul was clearly trying to clear Najib’s name, and distance the prime minister from all the scandals surrounding the embattled state investment fund.
“It further proves that there is a close link between Najib and 1MDB. Or else, why would Arul go through the trouble of coming down to defend Najib?
“Anyway, we will continue to press on the subject as it is a problem which will leave a very heavy burden on the rakyat.”
The twin by-elections in Kuala Kangsar and Sungai Besar take place this Saturday.