Rural and Regional Development Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this clearly showed the double standard adopted by the Opposition when such a call was not made on Penang Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng who is being charged for corruption.
“In the case of Guan Eng, they defend a criminal case, there is no necessity for a resignation or to go on leave.
“But in this civil case, there was no mention of the prime minister being a defendant, (yet) suddenly they ask the PM to resign. See how they politicise this issue and they are not consistent in their claims, double standard,” he said.
On Wednesday, the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) filed a civil suit to get back assets obtained through the funds of 1MDB, which were allegedly misappropriated.
Ismail Sabri, who is also a member of the Umno Supreme Council (MT), said the issue was deliberately being played up to cover Lim’s case.
Many had called on him (Lim Guan Eng) to resign but members of the DAP central executive committee as well as other Pakatan Harapan leaders said it was not necessary, he said.
Meanwhile, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed said the issue did not affect the investment sector or the country’s trade.
“We cannot make assumptions. This is not the time for us to make assumptions (on the impact of the 1MDB on national investment).
“Insya Allah we will be together through the principles of ‘collective responsibility’ to ensure that Malaysia will continue to be administered and managed in the best manner possible…meaning that investments and so on are running smoothly,” he said.
Meanwhile, Wanita Umno head Shahrizat Abdul Jalil said the movement welcomed the firm measures taken by the government to continue to cooperate with international investigation agencies on the 1MDB issue.
She said Wanita Umno would continue to support the leadership of the Prime Minister and called on the Malaysian people to continue to give their solid support to the government chosen democratically.
“We lay our trust on the authorities according to the principles of law so that the issue can be resolved immediately,” she said in a statement today.
Shahrizat said the right to give statements must also be given to those involved through the legal process.
“The main principle is that an individual is not guilty until proven otherwise by the court,” she said.
Meanwhile, Lenggong Member of Parliament Shamsul Anuar Nasarah advised everyone to be rational and give their trust to the existing enforcement institutions in tackling the 1MDB issue.