PETALING JAYA, 20 Dec: The 2010 report by Global Financial Integrity (GFI) regarding money laundering flows has put Malaysia as the second worst, proving that the ruling era of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak is burdened by corruption.
Although it was expected, however the large amount of illegal money transferred out of Malaysia from year 2000 to 2010 still shocked the nation, said PKR Opposition Leader leader Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim at a press conference here, at the PKR Headquarters.
“Malaysia is a country whose economy depends on international trade. Export and import activities involving money moving in and out, and investment funds, are becoming more complex every day.
“Therefore, the results of GFI’s study has shown the big picture of economic leakages in the country that has been moved out of the country which ultimately is disadvantageous to the people.” he said.
Anwar explained that Najib’s failure in managing the country’s economy is evidenced by the amount of illegal money outflows which has increased 111 percent from US$30.41 billion (RM94,27 billion) in 2009 to US$64.38 (RM199.58 billion) in the year 2010.
Compared to other countries, Malaysia is the only country that saw the amount of illegal money outflows increasing by one fold from 2009 to 2010.
Other countries include China, Mexico and Saudi Arabia.
“The most critical period of Najib’s administration, which is from 2009 to 2010, reflects economic policies and economic approaches that he has carried out.
“Therefore, this increase proves that his approach on economic policies have failed to curb corruption, failed to stop criminal activities that are behind the illegal economy and he has failed to strengthen national institutions to inculcate good governance,” he said.
In relation to that, Anwar will be writing letters to the Governor of the Central Bank of Malaysia, Tan Sri Zeti Akhtar, to GFI and to all Pakatan Rakyat Chief Ministers to invite them to participate in a discourse on how to combat illegal outflows of money which is anticipated to be held in January 2013.
These discussions at the negotiating table is to pursue this problem while finalising plans to combat money laundering.