In a joint statement signed by the Center to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4), the Society for the Promotion of Human Rights (Proham), Pusat Komas, Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram) and Lawyers for Liberty (LFL), representatives asked why Najib was “being given this big treat”.
Together with LFL, C4’s Cynthia Gabriel, Proham’s Ivy Josiah, Pusat Komas’ Faribel Fernandez and Suaram’s Sevan Doraisamy noted that the United States Department of Justice (DoJ) had released documents linking an individual known as “Malaysian Official One” (MO1) to losses amounting to US$4.5 billion.
They added that stolen assets worth US$1.7 billion were being recovered through two civil suits, and the case was being investigated in no less than six countries.
However, they said if Najib’s intent was to detract attention from the 1MDB investigations, the prime minister and his entourage “may want to think again”.
“It is evident that the DoJ is operating without the influence or opinion of the White House, as even Trump couldn’t shake himself off his own case,” they said.
They were referring to the ongoing investigation into alleged ties between US leader Donald Trump’s presidential campaign and Russia.
They added that US influence had been on the wane in Southeast Asia since Trump came into power, and that China had been left with much room to “exert its superpowers”.
In the past year alone, they said Malaysia had raked in more than RM400 billion in infrastructure investments, including those linked to the One Belt, One Road initiative.
“The emerging threat of war in North Korea also puts Malaysia at an important pivot to leverage US geopolitical interest in the region.
“Given the sad state of affairs and given that elections are looming, this visit to the White House raises these questions – what is the real intention behind this planned visit?”
Pointing out that Najib’s trip was organised just one month after US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson’s visit to Kuala Lumpur in August, they also asked how much money had been spent on the prime minister’s White House visit.
“Malaysians have a right to know how much public funds were spent by the prime minister on insider consultants in order to secure this visit,” they said.
They also called for Najib to release the 1MDB report under the Official Secrets Act before he leaves for the US.