Page 10 - aruba-today-20180630

A10 WORLD NEWS
Saturday 30 June 2018

Malaysian finance minister comments on graft scandal, China

Associated Press He said most corruption
PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia (AP) scandals under Najib's gov-
— Malaysian Finance Min- ernment have been un-
ister Lim Guan Eng com- earthed, but "there are a
mented on the massive cor- lot of mini 1MDBs" that will
ruption scandal surround- be revealed over time.
ing the 1MDB state invest- Lim acknowledged the na-
ment fund, ties with China tion's dire fiscal situation
and the country's political has rattled investors.
future in an interview Friday "I believe in speaking the
with The Associated Press. truth ... what you see is what
Here are excerpts: you get," he said. "I think I
'KLEPTOCRACY AT ITS will end up being the most
WORST' unpopular finance minister
Lim said fixing Malaysia's because I am focused on
finances will be an "enor- fixing up the debt predica-
mous task," with debts and ment."
liabilities exceeding 1 trillion SUING GOLDMAN SACHS
ringgit ($247 billion). Lim said the government
"We were faced with the plans to sue Goldman
magnitude of not just de- Sachs Group Inc. to recoup
ceit but also outright cor- about $600 million in com-
ruption. I mean this is a dif- missions paid by 1MDB for
ferent ballgame. We are Malaysian Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng speaks during an interview with The Associated Press at arranging three bond sales.
dealing with global klep- Finance Ministry in Putrajaya, Malaysia, Friday, June 29, 2018. "We are very unhappy with
tocracy at its worst," he said Associated Press Goldman Sachs because
about alleged theft and they advised 1MDB and
money laundering at the Razak. on loans, amounts to about that U.S. investigators say principally that got us into
1MDB state fund set up by Lim said losses at the now 50 billion ringgit ($12.4 bil- was stolen and laundered this mess. They got 600 mil-
former Prime Minister Najib defunct fund, plus interest lion), including $4.5 billion by Najib associates. lion ringgit as a fee. q

SKorea says inter-Korean ties crucial for nuclear diplomacy

Associated Press sured. Moon met with North
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Korean leader Kim Jong Un
South Korea's point man in April and May and their
for inter-Korean affairs said summits have opened
Friday Seoul will try to facili- various channels of peace
tate civilian-level exchang- talks, including ongoing
es with North Korea in com- military talks for reducing
ing months to strengthen border tensions, Red Cross
the conciliation process talks that set up temporary
between the rivals. reunions between war-sep-
Unification Minister Cho My- arated relatives, and sports
oung-gyon said strength- talks that led to an agree-
ened relations between ment to field combined
the Koreas will increase the teams at the Asian Games
chances of successful nu- in August.
clear diplomacy between Kim met with President
Washington and Pyong- Donald Trump earlier this
yang. month in Singapore where
"(Our) government will they issued an aspirational
closely communicate and goal for a denuclearized
cooperate with North Ko- Korean Peninsula without
rea and the United States, describing when and how
all our neighboring coun- it would occur. U.S. Secre-
tries, and the entire inter- tary of State Mike Pompeo
national community so that South Korean Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon speaks during the Korean Peninsula Peace is expected to travel to
the agreements between Symposium in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 29, 2018. North Korea soon for follow-
North Korea and the United Associated Press up talks. Cho said upcom-
States could be quickly and ing between Pompeo and
completely carried out," proach is needed." promote exchanges be- Korean projects will de- senior North Korean officials
Cho said at a Seoul forum Cho said Seoul will put in tween South Korean news pend on whether appro- will provide an opportunity
co-hosted by his ministry efforts to facilitate inter- organizations and North priate "conditions are cre- to shape detailed plans for
and South Korea's Yonhap Korean exchanges at the Korea's state media. Cho ated." South Korean Presi- the "complete denuclear-
news agency. "While the civilian and local govern- downplayed concerns that dent Moon Jae-in has said ization of the Korean Pen-
denuclearization negotia- ment levels so that "people improved relations will be progress in inter-Korean insula and security guaran-
tions go on, we may try to from all areas and levels accompanied by the eas- relations will be crucial be- tee for North Korea," which
facilitate the negotiations of society" could engage ing of sanctions and pres- cause the North won't give would help the wartime
with efforts from the inter- in the conciliation process. sure on North Korea, saying up its nuclear program un- foes kick off a genuine
Korean level if such an ap- He said Seoul will also try to that the progress in inter- less it feels its security is as- peace process.q