KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 30 – Communications and Multimedia Minister Datuk Seri Dr Salleh Said Keruak today questioned the motive of certain parties who continue to criticise the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) but refuse to accept solutions planned by parties involved.
“There are those who are not happy that the 1MDB had borrowed billions to finance its investments and they want 1MDB’s debts to be paid and its exposure reduced. And that is exactly what 1MDB is trying to do. The same people are also not happy that Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) was interested in buying some of 1MDB’s assets,” Salleh said.
“They do not want any local company such as TNB to buy over any of 1MDB’s assets. If 1MDB sells its assets to local companies they will call it a bailout. Now, 1MDB was in the final stage of selling Edra Global Energy to foreign investors but there was still a lot of criticism saying that the price was too low even though it was being sold at a higher price than if sold to TNB,” he said in his latest sskeruak.blogspot.com entry.
“This group of people also accused the sale of the company’s assets to foreign investors as an act of treason. It makes it very difficult when people do not know what they want. They want 1MDB to reduce its debts but they do not want any local company to buy 1MDB’s assets and at the same time they do not want 1MDB to sell these assets to foreigners. So what then do they want 1MDB to do?,” he asked.
“In the meantime, there were only three things 1MDB could do and all three things are not acceptable to the critics. However, there is also a fourth alternative, bankruptcy. Is this what they want 1MBD to do, to be declared bankrupt?, so that they can make this an issue against the Prime Minister?,” Sallleh said.
