Rafizi insists Najib take blame for RM983mil payout to Sapura CEO

PETALING JAYA: The spat between Rafizi Ramli and Najib Razak over Sapura Energy Bhd continues, with Rafizi insisting that the former prime minister accept responsibility for the RM983 million paid out to Sapura’s former chief executive officer (CEO).

Rafizi said that although Sapura was not a government-linked company (GLC) when Najib was prime minister and finance minister, he was still responsible as a trustee of Permodalan Nasional Bhd (PNB) and could object to any dealings by Sapura that could be detrimental to PNB.

“Najib was responsible for ensuring PNB’s investment in Sapura gave the best returns to the people,” he said in a statement.

He also accused Najib of trying to wash his hands off the matter after the latter stated that the prime minister or finance minister had no say in private companies.

Rafizi said this in response to Najib claiming that Sapura was not a GLC until 2019 and therefore was not under his purview when he helmed the top post.

Najib, however, argued that public saving funds like PNB, would invest in equities in “hundreds or thousands” of public-listed companies, locally and abroad.

And these companies had their own board of directors to look after the interests of the company and people to monitor their investments.

“Does the prime minister and finance minister then need to monitor the affairs of every listed company?” he asked in a Facebook post.

Rafizi had previously claimed that the then Sapura CEO received RM983 million in various payments from 2009 to 2018 when Najib was the prime minister. — Free Malaysia Today