Johari stays on as 1MDB task force chief

PUTRAJAYA: The newly-appointed Plantation and Commodities Minister, Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani, will remain as chairman of the government’s 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) task force.

Johari, a vocal critic of Goldman Sachs Group Inc, was appointed to chair the task force in March this year but was made a minister in the Cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday.

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He said the task force was currently monitoring progress, as there is an ongoing arbitration filed by Goldman Sachs against Malaysia.

“After four extensions given, Goldman Sachs still doesn’t want to make the first payment of US$250mil (RM1.2bil) at current rates).

“They argued that our earlier settlement with Ambank and Ipic (Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Co) is considered as a form of recovery.

“But that doesn’t come under recovery. It is a form of settlement,” said Johari, when clocking in on his first day of work in Putrajaya.

Asked if he would be replaced as task force chairman later, Johari said: “At this moment, I am still (leading the 1MDB task force). Let’s see later. Whoever is brave can do it.”