Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad claimed today that Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak had wanted to make Terrengganu oil fields as colaterals for a USD$5 billion (RM18.57 billion) loan taken by 1Malaysia Development Bhd’s predecessor despite the disapproval of the Terengganu Palace.
Speaking at a highly charged forum, which was meant to feature Najib as a speaker, the former, prime minister alleged that it was billionaire Low Taek Jho who influenced the Umno president to press on with the move in a bid to raise funds for the Terrengganu Investment Authority (TIA).
“Najib Abdul Razak insisted on pressing on with it.
“At that time, Jho Low was already menghasut (inciting) here and there for the investment body (1MDB) to be created,” Dr Mahathir said at the Nothing2Hide forum here.
The former prime minister claimed that was the reason why TIA was federalised
The dialogue — organised by lawyer group SukaGuam — was cancelled halfway by the police due to “security concerns”.
Dr Mahathir was supposedly not invited to the event, the group’s chief Datuk Khairul Anwar Rahmat claimed, but showed up after realising that so many of his supporters had wanted him there.
The former prime minister was originally held in the VIP room but his supporters had pushed their way through to get Dr Mahathir in the Tun Hussein Onn Hall A in Putra World Trade Centre here where the forum was supposed to take place.
Dr Mahathir eventually managed to get on stage to speak but was stopped by the police.
Najib decided against attending after he was advised not to by Inspector General of Police Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar due to security concerns.
– See more at: http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/dr-m-says-jho-low-defied-terengganu-palace-wanted-to-make-oilfields-collate#sthash.FOILBsFL.dpuf
