Wanita Umno chief Shahrizat Abdul Jalil today stated that the movement rejects all efforts by certain quarters to take the opportunity of using foreign powers and the recent scandal involving alleged money laundering in 1MDB, to topple Malaysia's democratically elected government.
"The consequences of such tactics will get out of hand, just as what occurred to Iraq and Syria, which in the end not only invited conflict but also prolonged civil war," she cautioned in her statement today.
Shahrizat also welcomed the government's strident decision to continue cooperating with international investigation into the alleged money laundering and embezzlement.
She was commenting on the recent asset forfeiture civil action filing by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) seeking to seize assets allegedly acquired with monies stolen from 1MDB, from Hollywood movie producer Riza Aziz who is Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's step-son, and controversial financier Jho Low .
The suit also mentioned a certain unnamed 'Malaysian Official 1' as being a high ranking member of the government related to Riza and held a position of influence in 1MDB, as being instrumental and having full knowledge of the alleged misappropriation of public funds.
Government critics were quick to pounce, calling for the PM to step down, pointing out that Najib is Riza's step-father and formerly the chairperson of the 1MDB advisory board, with whom sole approval for all major company decision rests.
Reiterating that Wanita Umno stands firmly behind Najib's leadership, Shahrizat called upon all Malaysians to continue to give unreserved support to the democratically elected BN-led government.
"We should place our trust in the authorities as per our enacted laws, that the issue will be resolved soon," she said.
Shahrizat also repeated the stand taken by Najib and Umno leaders that the DOJ filing is civil as opposed to criminal proceedings moved against individuals specifically named and no one else, and ask that everyone remember that even those named are innocent until proven guilty.
"It it clear that the PM is not named in the civil suit and the right to reply must be given to those involved in the legal process. The major principle of innocent until proven guilty should hold true," she concluded.
