KUALA LUMPUR: The US Department of Justice's latest filing of civil suits to recover assets allegedly embezzled from 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was a political conspiracy, linked to an opposition leader, Gerakan Merah Malaysia leader said today.
Datuk Seri Jamal Yunos said he strongly believed that the latest "intervention" has been instigated by Parti Bersatu Pribumi Malaysia chairman Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.
This, he said, was because the former prime minister has ill intention towards Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak and his leadership and had used his influence to turn the DoJ against the country's leader.
"We strongly believe that Tun Mahathir used his influence to make accusations on MO1, who is being said to be Najib.
"And now they are implicating the MO1's wife over the purchase of several accessories after all past attempts had failed. This is not the first time Tun M is doing this," he said in a press conference at his office in Ampang today.
He said Dr Mahathir's involvement on the matter was also disclosed by the PPBM's Youth chief Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman when he made a statement two days ago.
Jamal said Dr Mahathir would go to any extend to oust Najib.
"I guess this is his latest attempt after all else had failed," he said, adding that Malaysians should not be fooled by such attempts.
He also condemned the DoJ for the filing of a civil action suit against 1MDB without furnishing the AG with the relevant investigation details.
"We have no idea how the DoJ has come to this decision. At least if we are made known of the documents (in their possession and its authenticity), then it would be more convincing." Jamal said.
Earlier, Attorney-General Tan Sri Mohamed Apandi Ali has expressed frustrations over the news, saying that Malaysia was not informed of this latest lawsuit.
He also expressed strong concerns at the insinuations made against the prime minister of criminal wrongdoing.
The DoJ filed a second lawsuit on June 7 against state fund 1MDB as part of the effort to seize about US$1 billion worth of assets linked to the fund.