Opposition should stop sabotaging the economy

Here is the full statement from Barisan Nasional Strategic Communications Director Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Dahlan, urging the Opposition to stop its allegations which could hurt the country's economy.

1. As we have seen time and time again, the opposition puts its personal ambitions and self-interest ahead of what is best for Malaysia.

2. Rather than welcome the announcement that 1MDB has settled its differences with IPIC and monetised all its investment fund units – meaning the challenges facing 1MDB have now been resolved – members of the opposition seem intent to continue their programme of undermining our economy.

3. They have tried every trick in the book. From sabotaging the IPO of 1MDB’s energy assets which led to this situation, to falsely declaring to the world that Malaysia is a bankrupt state. However, it should be clear even to them that these attempts have failed.

4. Now they are trying to distract the rakyat by spreading more lies, such as suggesting that Malaysian taxpayers will have to bail-out 1MDB and make US$6 billion in payments.

5. This is absolutely not true and detracts from the fact that 1MDB's fund units assets worth up to US$2.5 billion have been monetized and a significant milestone has been achieved towards the completion of 1MDB's rationalization plan that started almost two years ago.

6. The first tranche of payments for it has already been received by 1MDB in cash.

7. Additionally, 1MDB and IPIC have announced that they will enter into negotiations to settle other payments made by 1MDB that is separate from the US$2.5 billion arising from the monetization of the fund units.

8. This not only proves that, contrary to the oppositions lies, the funds have existed all this while. But it also slams the door shut on their wild allegation that these funds were somehow transferred to the Prime Minister’s accounts – an allegation that had previously been rejected by no less than the Saudi Foreign Minister who publicly stated that these funds were a donation from the Saudi Royal Family.

9. There can now be absolutely no doubt that these allegations were malicious lies intended to bring Malaysia's economy to its knees, just for selfish political gain.

10. The DAP-led opposition, and its supporter Tun Mahathir, should accept that their campaign has failed.