SHAH ALAM, 6 Apr: All ministers of the interim government, including the BN Chairman, Datuk Seri Najib Razak, have been urged to come forward to declare if they or their family members have offshore companies.
This call was made by Lim Kit Siang in a media statement following the exposure reported by Malaysiakini in relation to ownership of other offshore companies owned by Malayia politicians, their relatives and partners.
Among those names in the report includes the son of former prime minister, Mirzan Mahathir, Minister of Territories and Urban Wellbeing, Datuk Seri Raja Nong Chik Zainal Abidin and Michael Chia, who has been linked with the Sabah Chief Minister, Datuk Seri Musa Aman.
“In fact, Najib has repeatedly failed in a series of tests to demonstrate his seriousness and sincerity to improve accountability, integrity and good governance as a major goal of his administration.” said Kit Siang in a statement.
According to the Malaysiakini exclusive report yesterday, files obtained from the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) which is based in Washington, shows that 1,500 Malaysians have offshore companies in Singapore and the British Virgin Islands (BVI).
The ICIJ list consists of tycoons listed in Forbes, parliamentarians, political pensioners, civil servants and their spouses, royalty, businessmen, secret societies and former beauty queens.
Although several offshore companies carry out legitimate transactions, the others have RM871.4 billion in illegal money flows in a period of 10 years, as estimated by the financial watchdog based in Washington, Global Financial Integrity (GFI).
In his response, Nong Chik told Malaysiakini said that RZA International Corporation which was established by his father, who is 96 this year, is for legitimate offshore investment without involving any blurry activities, tax avoidance or to hide overseas transactions.