Closeted luxury goods appraisal amateur, and former PM, Najib Razak, told media yesterday that the valuation of seized items that included luxury handbags, sunglasses, watches and in particular, the thousands of pieces of jewelry, plus 14 tiaras, was grossly exaggerated. He called the nearly RM1 billion valuation “subjective and unrealistic,” saying that many were gifts from foreign leaders and friends.
The amateur gemologist added that the value of each piece was greatly dependent on the source of the stone, and whether they had been gifted or purchased.
Nothing like calling out some of your best mates for passing off shoddy rubies in order to ingratiate themselves with your wife. Yeah sure, we’ll take it, but we know an emerald with light tone and weak saturation when we see one, amirite?!
Speaking to Malaysiakini (Ed. note: My, how times have changed!), Najib said that valuation tends to differ, and he hoped that he will be allowed to examine the items himself in order to explain their provenance.
One can only hope that the former leader approaches finding the trail of 1MDB’s missing billions with as much gusto as he does for tracking down what “gifts” he received while PM of Malaysia.
To give you an idea of scope and protocol, while for US President Obama was in office, all gifts were logged and kept by the State Department. In his first term, the value of presents given to the so-called leader of the free world was less than US$1 million, and included chintz and kitsch like tequila bottles from Mexico, and ceramic dog bowls from the Czech Republic. Funnily enough, nobody seemed to be passing Michelle any Birkins by the hundred.
Malaysian police have taken Najib, the country’s most eager auditor, to task and have offered him access to the RM1.1 billions worth of cash, jewels and sunnies seized from six properties linked to him.
Turns out, he just needs to fill out some paperwork, get approval, and he can visit the “subjective” collection. Can’t wait. We love it when things get liminal.
While on the subject, we’re eagerly awaiting an explanation on why a non-royal would need not one, not two, nor three but 14 tiaras in their personal collection. Dare we say, the answer is bound to be thoroughly enlightening.
