Task force confirms freeze on bank accounts

PETALING JAYA: The 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) task force has confirmed it has frozen several bank accounts of individuals and organisations, including that of Umno and other political parties.

It believes the individuals and organisations were involved in misappropriation of 1MDB funds.

“Several accounts belonging to associations and companies were also frozen in connection with the case.

“The investigation will be conducted fairly and professionally based on the rule of law,” the task force said yesterday.

The task force also called on all parties to give the authorities ample space to investigate the case.

The 1MDB task force members are Bukit Aman Special Branch director Datuk Abdul Hamid Bador, former Attorney General Tan Sri Abdul Gani Patail, MACC chief commissioner Datuk Seri Mohd Shukri Abdull as well as his predecessor Tan Sri Abu Kassim Mohamed.

The 1MDB task force was set up on May 21 to investigate 1MDB and recover assets abroad.

A newspaper reported that MACC has frozen about 900 accounts traced to that of 1MDB. Umno’s main account was one of those frozen.

Johor Umno secretary Datuk Md Jais Sarday said that its state party account with CIMB had been frozen since Thursday.

“And this was confirmed when the bank called us today (yesterday) to inform us that they could not execute the transaction of the payment of salaries of our secretariat staff,” said Jais.

Asked how the state Umno secretariat was going to pay its staff, Jais said state Umno chief Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin had assured them he would find a way to settle the payment.

Umno Youth newly elected chief Datuk Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki urged the MACC to unfreeze the party’s accounts immediately.

He said investigations by the anti-graft body could still be conducted without disrupting the party’s operations.

Sarawak United Peoples’ Party president Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian, meanwhile, confirmed that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission has frozen the party’s bank account.

“SUPP will comply with any investigation by the authority, as it always had,” he said in a brief statement.