“Since we are ready for a General Election, I challenge the PM to call for elections, seek a new mandate and let the people decide,” he said at a press conference in Komtar today.
The DoJ had on Wednesday, filed lawsuits saying that over US$3.5 billion was misappropriated from 1MDB.
Lim said the allegations by the US has put Malaysia in a bad light.
“I think this is a question of how we seek justice, how US$3.5 billion was stolen from the people of Malaysia.
“That roughly translates to RM13 billion of money. We know the Attorney-General (AG) and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission are appointed by the PM.
“So, I do not think we can ensure an independent full investigation,” Lim said in calling for the polls to seek a referendum on the allegations by the DoJ.
Lim also challenged the AG to reopen files in the 1MDB case, following US prosecutors’ investigation.
“But we all know the AG will not file charges on the PM, so it is best that fresh polls be called,” he said.
Meanwhile, Lim thanked the US government for investigating the alleged money laundering and working hard to return Malaysian taxpayers’ monies.
“We are touched. Here we have someone stealing our money and we have someone from the other end of the world helping us return our money.
“This goes to show the country’s investigation process, the entire system, is rigged and broken down.
“The revelation of money laundering by US only goes to show that Barisan Nasional is ‘bapa penyamun’ and ‘perasuah Malaysia’ (chief robber and corrupt),” he said.
“Today we can safely say 1MDB is the penghulu of all corruption in the world. Congratulations Malaysia, you are the world champions of corruption,” Lim added.
In the lawsuits, filed in Los Angeles, the DoJ said it sought to seize assets “involved in and traceable to an international conspiracy to launder money misappropriated from 1MDB”.
The DoJ also alleged offences were committed over a four-year period and involved multiple individuals, including Malaysian officials and their associates, who conspired to fraudulently divert billions of dollars from 1MDB.
It specifically named Najib’s stepson Riza Aziz, Low Taek Jho (better known as Jho Low), and Abu Dhabi government officials Khadem al-Qubaisi and Mohamed Ahmed Badawy Al-Husseiny.