Final 1MDB audit report classified as official secret

KUALA LUMPUR: The long-awaited final audit report on 1Malaysia Development Bhd has been classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).

PAC member Tony Pua, who spoke to reporters who were barred from covering the PAC meeting held in Parliament yesterday, said the report had been classified as an official secret by the National Security Council (NSC).

He was asked if the classification of the report was made by the PAC or the Attorney-General’s Chamber.

Pua said the A-G had submitted the report to the NSC which did the classification. The report was handed back to the PAC which met at Parliament yesterday.

Pua said the meeting went smoothly and would continue on Monday.

“However, since it is classified under the OSA, we will not be able to take it back with us,” he said.

PAC vice-chief Dr Tan Seng Giaw said any government organisation could apply for OSA classification, but did not elaborate.

PAC chairman Hasan Arifin said the PAC accepted and appreciated the action of the A-G’s Department to classify the final report under the OSA.

“The Auditor-General has the legal power to do so in order to uphold the credibility and integrity of the department,” he said.