Wan Saiful: Public perception not on Najib’s side

PETALING JAYA: There will be many political ramifications from the latest “file closed” announcement over the donation involving Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak.

The Prime Minister’s political problems are not over, said Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) chief executive Wan Saiful Wan Jan (pic).

In terms of public perception, this was a no-win situation for Najib despite the Attorney-General’s decision to clear Najib from any wrongdoing, he added.

“Public perception will not be on the PM’s side.

“In fact, many people will say this is an expected decision and they never expected the A-G to make any other decision anyway,” said Wan Saiful in a statement yesterday.

“This is a case that has many political ramifications so a legal solution is unlikely to be the end,” he added.

DAP parliamentary leader Lim Kit Siang said Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali should have withdrawn himself from deciding to free Najib from any criminal offence over the RM2.6bil political donation.

Instead, he said the matter should be decided by the Solicitor-General.

“Apandi was appointed by Najib in the most extraordinary of circumstances, when Tan Sri Gani Patail was suddenly and shockingly sacked on July 28.

“Apandi should have avoided any conflict of interest situation and withdrawn from any decision-making on MACC’s investigation papers relating to Najib in its investigations into the scandal.

“I call on Apandi to make public the MACC’s proposals in its investigation papers on the RM2.6bil ‘donation’ and SRC scandals,” he added.

Lim urged the Government to form a three-man panel comprising two former judges and former attorney-general Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman to determine whether there has been conflict of interest in Apandi’s decision.