Be fair in prosecuting 1MDB suspects, new AG urged

Malaysia is scrambling to bring home billions of dollars allegedly siphoned off from 1MDB, a state fund founded by ex-premier Najib Razak, who lost a general election last month. His successor, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, said Malaysia is also seeking to arrest financier Low Taek Jho, a central figure in the scandal who advised on investments and negotiated deals for 1MDB.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman, who heads the special committee on 1Malaysia Deve­lopment Bhd (1MDB), says Attorney General Tommy Thomas must be fair in prosecuting those allegedly involved in the scandal.

“I wish him all the best and hope that he ensures justice for all, including the people alleged to have not observed the law,” he told reporters after meeting Securities Commission officials at Ilham Tower yesterday.

Abu Talib, a former Attorney General, said the committee was still working on its findings.

“We will submit our findings to the AG, once completed, for him to consider,” he added.

On May 30, the committee sought further clarification on the recently declassified 1MDB audit report from Finance Ministry, Securities Commission and Audit Department officials.

The 1MDB special committee was set up by the Council of Eminent Persons on May 17.

Its other members include PricewaterhouseCoopers partner in risk assurance Nik Shahrizal Sulai­man, Naqiz & Partners senior partner Syed Naqiz Shahbuddin Syed Abdul Jabbar, Otoritas Jasa Keuangan Indonesia (the Indonesian financial services authority) senior adviser Faris Rabidin and Centre to Combat Corruption and Cronyism (C4) founder Cynthia Gabriel.