PM: Allow legal process to take its course for those named by US DOJ’

KUALA LUMPUR: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has given an assurance that the Government will give its full cooperation to international bodies investigating 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) as it is serious about good governance.

He said the Government viewed seriously the civil suits filed by the US Department of Justice (US DOJ) to seize more than US$1bil (RM4.02bil) in assets allegedly linked to 1MDB, which was announced late Wednesday.

“We have to establish that this is a civil, and not a criminal, action, and it is limited to the names listed in the report by the US DOJ.

“Our stand remains that we do not tolerate any act that goes against the law,” he told reporters at Wisma Felda after attending its Hari Raya open house yesterday.

Najib urged all parties not to jump to conclusions and to allow the legal process to take its due course.

“It means that those individuals have the chance to defend themselves using the court process,” he said.

The Prime Minister stressed that the Government did not want any party to assume that it did not take the principle of good governance seriously, as it has been a part of the country’s struggles.

Asked if he was shocked that an estimated US$3.5bil (RM14.07bil) had been missing from the fund, he said “we have to establish that it is a civil, and not a criminal, action”.

“Those people involved will have their say through the process of the court in the United States.

“So anything that is against the law, we want the process to take its course,” he said.

Asked to comment on his stepson being named in the suits, Najib said: “Like anybody else, he has his rights. Please allow the process to take its course.”

Pressed further on whether the matter would affect ties with the United States, Najib said it was a separate issue that only related to the individuals named.

“It does not relate to the overall position with respect to the policies between the two countries,” he said.