He said in a statement on Wednesday that the documents were subject matter of an ongoing investigation.
Well, let the investigation takes its due course, and until its completed, Prime Minister Najib Razak is considered 'clean'.
However, this draws my immediate concern. Gani said:
“A further concern was that the documents were allegedly leaked from within the investigation itself. I am also concerned at the insinuations and allegations that have been made linking him to certain political agenda."
My argument 1 - YES, WHAT'S THE POLITICAL AGENDA? There are hidden hands that led to the saga. Not only it was an inside job but it also pointed to foreign agents, believed fully-paid by a group of people (locals and foreigners) who wants to topple Najib. Could it be the Opposition, DAP, PAS and PKR? Someone could have told WSJ 'Hey, just write about it...if they (in Putrajaya) prosecute you, we will take care of you. Bring Najib down, at all cost!"
My argument 2 - Barisan Nasional is among the world's most 'untouched' government since 1957. It equally awes and grues many factions, both from inside and outside Malaysia. It is an undeniable fact that foreigners are in cahoot with some political and NGOs in the country to pin down BN amid what they claimed as 'minority government rules' after the 13th General Election. And since infamous politician and former Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim is in jail, ousting Najib is one of few avenues to free him and put him in Putrajaya.
My argument 3 - They just can't wait to remove Najib. The Opposition had on Tuesday demanded Najib takes leave pending investigation or step aside to pave ways for the setting up of a caretaker government. They also want a fresh general election within a year (which I believe they could win amid controversy hovering Najib and his government). Why are they so hasty? The manner at which DAP and PKR exploited and manipulate the issue points to only one thing - that they want the power today! They had enough of Umno-led regime, and they want to change it.
My argument 4 - Najib is losing in the court of opinion, not in the court of law. His opponents are riding high on social media, using and paying some 'mamak' (they are not Malays although they are also Muslims, and they hate Malays for what they had undergone since childhood) writers to batter Najib. Even his once Cabinet and Umno buddies are turning away from him, happy to be part of the team, preparing big envelope to such writers. And sad to say, the government social media team rumbles. I don't see Umno Information chief and his subordinates or even the Information Department taking a lead role in helping Najib. So pathetic...and that resulted in poor showing in the last two general elections.
Abdul Gani stressed that the whole purpose of setting up an inter-agency special task force to investigate the matter was to ensure there could be no abuse of the investigation mechanism.
“I will not hesitate to prosecute any person found to have leaked confidential investigation related information as it is a criminal offence under section 133 of the Financial Services Act 2013, and Section 145 of the Islamic Financial Services Act 2013.It is also a criminal offence under section 203A of the Penal Code for any person to disclose any information or matter which has been obtained by him in the performance of his duties or the exercise of his functions under any written law.
“For any person who has access to any document or information relating to the affairs or account of any customer of a financial institution, including the financial institution or any person who is or has been a director, officer or agent of the financial institution, to disclose to another person any document or information relating to the affairs or account of any customer of the financial institution."
It is wrong as well for any person who has any information or matter which to his knowledge has been disclosed in contravention of the law to further disclose that information or matter to any other person, added Abdul Gani.