Why is the Cabinet silent on damning 1MDB allegations?

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The Cabinet's Silence Amidst Damning 1MDB Allegations is Under Scrutiny

The federal government's silence regarding allegations by international media that 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) was used to finance the Barisan Nasional's (BN) 2013 election campaign has drawn sharp criticism. While ministers have previously engaged with foreign media on other matters, the Cabinet has not directly refuted claims made by the Wall Street Journal concerning 1MDB's alleged role in funding BN's election efforts.
Allegations of 1MDB Financing Election Campaigns

The Wall Street Journal reported that acquisition payments made by the debt-laden 1MDB were allegedly channelled to special charities intended for BN's election campaigns. This was highlighted with an example where Yayasan Rakyat 1Malaysia (YR1M) reportedly received RM35 million from Genting Plantation, following 1MDB's acquisition of Genting Sanyen.
Ministers' Engagement with International Media

In contrast to the current silence on the Wall Street Journal's claims, federal ministers have previously authored open letters to international news outlets. Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Anifah Aman penned a letter to The New York Times in response to criticism from former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad. Additionally, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala replied to a Bloomberg columnist regarding criticisms of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's leadership.
Opposition Lawmaker's Concerns

Opposition lawmaker Lim Kit Siang has voiced concerns over this disparity, questioning why a minister, such as the Second Finance Minister Datuk Seri Husni, has not been tasked with writing a similar open letter to the Wall Street Journal to refute its expose. Lim also pointed out that Idris Jala's letter to Bloomberg omitted comments about the government's alleged "misguided priorities and its utter lack of accountability."
Government's Communication Efforts Questioned

Lim has previously criticised plans for a government roadshow intended to explain the 1MDB controversy and the Goods and Services Tax (GST). He suggested that the government should first address and either confirm or deny the allegations that 1MDB has been used to fund BN's election coffers. This approach mirrors concerns raised about the cancelled "Nothing To Hide" forum, which was intended to feature Najib but was called off due to security concerns, particularly after Dr Mahathir indicated his attendance. 1MDB, a state-owned entity with RM42 billion in debt since its inception in 2009, is currently the subject of investigations by three government agencies.

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Why is the Cabinet silent on damning 1MDB allegations?

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