Najib not liable for 1MDB dealings, says PAC

KUALA LUMPUR, 07 April 2016 -- Timbalan Pengerusi, Jawatankuasa Kira-Kira Wang Negara (PAC) , yang juga Ahli Parlimen Kepong, Tan Seng Giau menjawab soalan media selepas keluar daripada sidang Dewan Rakyat di Bangunan Parlimen di sini hari ini.Gambar MOHD NOOR MAT AMINPemberita TEAM PARLIMEN UTUSAN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR: The Prime Mi­­-nis­ter should not be held accountable for the dealings by 1MDB, says PAC vice-chairman Dr Tan Seng Giaw.

The DAP’s Kepong MP said Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was not involved in the company’s dealings because he was just chairman of its advisory board.

“I think those on the board of directors and management, and those who run the company, are the people we have to probe.

“That will be the correct thing to do. Legally speaking, how can you take action against people who have done nothing?” he said at the Parliament lobby yesterday.

“This is the rule of law. You can’t condemn a person until he has been proven guilty,” Dr Tan said.

PAC committee member Datuk Liang Teck Meng said it did not find any criminal misappropriation of funds during its investigations into the firm.

The Gerakan MP for Simpang Renggam said the bi-partisan PAC had scrutinised the firm’s money trails and found that all the money had been accounted for.

“I am glad that both sides (Barisan Nasional and the Opposition) could come up with this report. There is no money missing. As such, the claims by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad that 1MDB had lost RM42bil was unfounded,” he said yesterday.

Liang added that PAC had confirmed that Aabar Investment PJS, which received US$3.5bil (RM13.6bil) from 1MDB was not a shell company as claimed by the Opposition.

Gerakan president Datuk Seri Mah Siew Keong said in a separate statement that the conclusion of the painstaking investigation had fulfilled the public expectations for answers while also offering calls for corrective actions.

“The nation has learned an important lesson from 1MDB and all of us should now move forward under the leadership of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak,” he added.

“More focus and efforts should be dedicated into solving the people’s concerns instead of indulging in destructive politicking.”