We don’t know the facts, it’s Najib who should explain 1MDB: Muhyiddin

KUALA LUMPU — Malaysian deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin told prime minister Najib Razak to explain the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) controversy, claiming that he and other ministers were unaware of the “real facts”.

News website The Star Online also reported Mr Muhyiddin as saying that he was not trying to oust Mr Najib from office by backing the investigation on the state-owned fund that is embroiled in corruption allegations involving the prime minister.

“Don’t underestimate the people. We cannot lie. When the second finance minister explains on 1MDB, the critics rebut him and when the housing minister speaks, he is also rebutted,” Mr Muhyiddin was quoted saying at a Cheras United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) meeting here last night.

“We cannot explain properly because even we don’t know the real facts. So who is going to tell us the real facts? It should [be] the prime minister. True or not?” he added.

Mr Muhyiddin also reportedly denied having “malice” in supporting the 1MDB probe, saying: “I have to speak the truth and give my views and advice”.

News portal The Malaysian Insider reported Mr Muhyiddin as saying that he had to read The Edge business paper as he “found it difficult to understand what was going on with 1MDB”.

The home ministry, however, has suspended the printing permits of The Edge Weekly and The Edge Financial Daily for three months starting today, claiming that their 1MDB reports could affect “public order”.

Former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad has been pushing openly for Mr Najib’s resignation, citing the controversy surrounding 1MDB that is facing a huge debt burden of RM42 billion (S$15.1 billion). MALAY MAIL ONLINE