Allegations of impropriety by the wife of a prime minister was unthinkable in the past, says DAP veteran Lim Kit Siang, who has been in politics for close to five decades.
Lim said this today in referring to the allegation by whistleblower site Sarawak Report yesterday that RM2 million in cash was deposited into the AffinBank account of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's wife, Rosmah Mansor.
"For the first time in the nation’s 58-year history, the wife of a Malaysian prime minister has become the target of allegation of impropriety," Lim said in a statement today.
"Such an allegation would be completely unthinkable during the times of the wives of the first five prime ministers, from Sharifah Rodziah Syed Alwi Barakbah, Rahah Mohammad Noah, Suhaila Mohammad Noah, Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, Endon Mahmood Ambak to Jeanne Abdullah Danker," he added.
Lim said this was yet another allegation linked to Najib, who himself is being investigated over allegations of having RM2.6 billion in state funds deposited into his personal bank accounts with AmBank.
As such, he urged Najib to take the advice of the his mentor, Musa Hitam, and go on leave pending investigations.
'Let a royal commission carry out the investigation'
Lim also called for the investigation to be carried out by a royal commission of inquiry.
This, he said, was because the special task force investigating the matter comprised the heads of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, Bank Negara and Attorney-General Chambers, all of who reported to Najib as prime minister and finance minister.
The police chief, who is also part of the task force, reports to the Home Ministry.
Furthermore, Lim said, Najib, had on Wednesday outlined the scope of the special task force, which was equally unacceptable.
"This is a test of Najib’s patriotism, whether he is prepared to end the government paralysis caused by the 1MDB scandal, reaching a new crescendo with The Wall Street Journal report and Sarawak Report allegations, by immediately going on leave while investigations by an independent royal commission of inquiry are initiated," he said.
Lim also urged Najib to declare his bank accounts to clear his name.
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