Anwar - RM5.7 billion BNM loss,after I was jailed, the culprit was promoted to Minister...

"Why is currency speculator George Soros vilified as a rogue speculator, when the person responsible for the loss of RM5.7 billion (by Bank Negara Malaysia through foreign exchange trading) was given a promotion?" 

This was the question DAP-Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng posed to deputy finance minister Donald Lim during question time in Parliament today.

Pointing to BN-Tasik Gelugor MP Nor Mohamed Yakcop, Lim asked why the former had not been taken to task instead of being promoted now to a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department.

"This is not 'janji ditepati' (promises fulfilled), but 'jampi ditepati' (a hex coming true)," he said.

Donald had earlier informed the Dewan Rakyat that Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) suffered losses of RM5.7 billion in 1992, as specified in BNM's 1993 annual report. 

He had said this in answering Guan Eng’s question on the actual losses suffered, the persons responsible and why no stern action was taken against those responsible.

Donald, however, did not say who was responsible for the losses and the actions taken.

“Going by the statements of top BNM officials then, the speculating by the rogue Malaysian traders was done through computers at several desks, to drive up certain currencies to rake in profits,” Guan Eng said. 

‘Ministerial responsibility’

Pressed on the matter of accountability, Donald dodged the question further by telling Guan Eng to instead ask PKR-Permatang Pauh MP Anwar Ibrahim, who was the finance minister at the time.

Interjecting, BN-Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin added that Guan Eng’s question was a “friend-killing question” (soalan bunuh kawan).

Citing the Hansard from 1993, Khairy added that Guan Eng’s father, Lim Kit Siang (DAP-Ipoh Timor) had then called for Anwar to take “ministerial responsibility” over the losses.

Given room to answer by the speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia, despite heckling from the MPs, Anwar said that he had instructed a stop to the trading. 

“There is nothing wrong with Ipoh Timor asking that question as he was seeking an explanation over something that was first denied. 

“As finance minister I had confirmed it and instructed the immediate halt of all forex trading,” he said.

He added that the forex trading only took place “before 1990”, and that the then-Bank Negara governor, the late Jaafar Hussein, said Nor Mohamed was given the go-ahead by then finance minister and prime minister at the time.

“Jaafar offered to resign with Nor Mohamed. But after I was jailed, Nor Mohamed was promoted to minister,” Anwar said.- malaysiakini

Anwar: Dr M, Daim behind forex scandal...

Bank Negara got involved in foreign exchange speculation under the direction of the finance minister before me, with the blessings of the then prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim said this at Parliament today.

Anwar served as finance minister from 1991 to 1998. His immediate predecessor was Umno veteran, Daim Zainuddin.

Earlier, Deputy Finance Minister Donald Lim told the Dewan that Malaysia lost RM5.7 billion when Bank Negara was said to be involved in the forex scandal.

When Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng asked whether action was taken against officers involved in the matter, the deputy minister told the Penang chief minister to refer the matter to Anwar as he was serving as the finance minister then.

The hall soon erupted and Rembau MP Khairy Jamaluddin pointed out that on April 27, 1993, DAP MP Lim Kit Siang had said that Anwar must take responsibility for the billions lost.

Anwar stood up to defend himself, saying it was he who instructed Bank Negara to stop speculating on the currency market in 1993.

He also said Kit Siang was right to ask the question at that time and said that he had admitted to the DAP veteran that Bank Negara made some losses in the scandal.

“Then Bank Negara governor, Jaafar Hussein resigned despite not being directly involved in the matter, together with Nor Mohamed Yakcop who was then in charge of the Forex Trading Unit.

“But when I was jailed in 1998, Nor Mohamed was promoted to become a minister,” said Anwar.-FMT

Kerugian mata wang: Anwar arah Bank Negara henti perniagaan...

“Saya selaku Menteri Kewangan ketika itu minta (perniagaan itu) dihenti serta merta. Perniagaan forex (mata wang) dibuat sebelum 1990, sebelum saya menjadi Menteri Kewangan.

“Perniagaan forex ini dilakukan dengan kebenaran Menteri Kewangan sebelum itu dengan persetujuan Perdana Menteri ketika itu,” kata Anwar.

Beliau menjelaskan demikian selepas diprovok Ahli Parlimen Rembau, Khairy Jamaluddin yang mencelah mengatakan Ahli Parlimen Ipoh Timur, Lim Kit Siang, pernah meminta Anwar meletak jawatan berikutan kerugian tersebut pada 1993.

“Tidak ada masalah (untuk jawab) Ipoh Timur. Ada perakuan. Memang ada kerugian yang dinafikan. Saya dah bercakap dengan Tan Sri Jaafar. Dia beri penjelasan walaupun belum mendapat maklumat.

“Walaupun dia tak bertanggungjawab (secara) langsung, tapi dia pilih untuk meletakkan jawatan.

Peliknya Nor Mohamed Yakcop pula diangkat sebagai Menteri,” tegas Anwar menjelaskan, Nor Mohamed ketika itu pemimpin Bank Negara yang bertanggungjawab di bawah Seksyen Forex Trade (dagangan matawang).

Terdahulu, Ahli Parlimen Permatang Pauh dalam soalan bertulis meminta kerajaan menyatakan langkah-langkah yang diambil untuk mengurangkan kadar perbelanjaan Persekutuan.

Ini memandangkan sumber pendapatan negara yang tidak berkembang secara signifikan, serta peningkatan hutang negara ke paras yang membimbangkan berjumlah RM437 bilion dengan defisit yang terus meningkat. - keadilandaily

Rugi RM5.7 bil: salahkan Soros, adakah kerajaan sedar BNM juga terlibat dgn berjudi wang negara dalam kegiatan forex...

cheers.