1MDB scandal - Should the Prime Minister be barred from leaving the country ?

Must be the first time in modern history that a multi-agency task force led by none other than the Attorney General himself has started an extensive probe into some 'wild allegations'.

We shall place our full confidence and trust in the task force and on the shoulders of the no-nonsense Attorney General Tan Sri Gani Patail.

While the AG and his task force are conducting their extensive probe that includes poking their nose deep into those personal accounts in local banks, the Malaysian currency is taking a bad hit. 

Ringgit has hit a 16-year low against the US Dollar followings news of Najib's 'wild allegations' making world headlines. 

News Alerts today read :-
- 'Malaysian Ringgit hit a 16-year low on Monday as political tensions mounted over a report that linked Prime Minister Najib Razak to probes into alleged corruption involving state fund 1MDB' 

- The Ringgit fell to as low as 3.8070 per US dollar, its weakest since May 1999. Two of Malaysia's main Opposition parties on Sunday demanded an emergency sitting of Parliament to discuss Mr Najib's future - Straits Times Singapore.

The share market is not spared by Najib's 'wild allegations' either. Slightly before noon the KLCI was down 21.02 points to 1,713.22. 

MIDF research reports that - Foreign selling persists, Year-to-day outflow stood at RM9 billion.

Wild allegations or not a friend from Bangkok called this morning saying that some newspapers in Pattaya have been speculating that Najib might do a Thaksin to save himself. 

I didn't ask him exactly what he meant, simply not wanting to discuss our domestic scandal with a foreigner but 'doing a Thaksin' at this point of time could not mean too many things.

I hope the Attorney General and the special multi-agency task force probing Najib's 'wild allegations' have taken the necessary steps to prevent anyone 'doing a Thaksin' while graft and or abuse of power investigations are underway. 

To prevent speculation and allegations of cover up and such, it would be wise for the powerful task force to freeze, with immediate effect, all local and foreign assets/properties plus bank accounts linked to the prime suspects in this major investigation. 

We must accept the fact that this investigation into the 'wild allegations' against the Prime Minister of Malaysia is being followed internationally. What was local has gone global i.e. glokal. 

In view of the seriousness of the 'wild allegations' against Najib, the task force must also prevent the Prime Minister and his close family members from leaving the country until the investigation is done with. 

All official foreign assignments of the Prime Minister could be handled by the Deputy Prime Minister and/or other relevant ministers. Unofficial assignments could wait.

If the Prime Minister and family are not barred from leaving Malaysia, 'wild allegations' and speculations will just gain momentum and take its toll on the ringgit and KLCI.

For those Malaysians who are still stuck in their own web, this is not about politics. This is about putting the interest of the nation and the 30-odd million people who depend on her before any other interests or considerations. This is about saving Malaysia from further slide and ridicule. This is about arresting the sliding level of confidence in us, Malaysia and Malaysians.

Thank you. 

p/s THAKSIN