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By Mihar Dias (C) Cooyright October 2023
Well, folks, it seems we've stumbled upon a new suspect in the great Malaysian finance caper, and it's none other than our former Finance Minister, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Raja Petra Kamarudin, the notorious blogger, has spun a web of intrigue around the missing US$7 billion settlement between Goldman Sachs and the Malaysian government.
According to Raja Petra, Tengku Zafrul should be wearing the crown of financial infamy for this escapade. He insists that since the payment to Malaysia was channeled directly through the Finance Ministry, it's the Finance Minister who's holding the bag of responsibility.
Forget the fact that UMNO's Datuk Lokman Adam had earlier pointed fingers at lawyer Rosli Dahlan, who, as it turns out, was just a pawn in the grand scheme of things.
The Finance Ministry, under Tengku Zafrul's watch, was the puppeteer, pulling the strings and determining how much of that RM7 billion settlement would make its way into the treasury. But did Tengku Zafrul share this little detail with the public during his tenure? Of course not.
It's a classic case of "mum's the word" when it comes to those who hold the nation's purse strings. While allegations and accusations flew in all directions, Tengku Zafrul remained tight-lipped, leaving us to ponder whether he had a knack for plausible deniability or if he was just relishing the suspense.
Now, as Raja Petra suggests, the responsibility for this disappearing act should squarely rest on Tengku Zafrul's shoulders. After all, he was the man in charge, the magician behind the curtain. If this massive heist did occur, it's not the lawyers or any other convenient scapegoat that should bear the brunt of the blame. It's the Finance Minister who should be held accountable.
In the grand tradition of Malaysian politics, this revelation conveniently surfaces after the fact, right when it's most politically expedient. The plot thickens as the Attorney-General's Chambers writes a letter to set the record straight, leaving the treasury and Tengku Zafrul sitting quietly in the shadows.
So, dear readers, we've now added a new character to our ever-evolving financial thriller: Tengku Zafrul, the Finance Minister who knew but didn't tell. As we watch this drama unfold, we can only hope that the truth will emerge and that someone, anyone, will be held accountable for the disappearing billions.
After all, in politics, the show must go on, and it's always the taxpayers who foot the bill for these enigmatic disappearing acts.
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