Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar has been urged to step down from the special task force investigating the 1MDB scandal, in the interest of preserving his impartiality.
This, said PAS Pokok Sena MP Mahfuz Omar, has arisen because the IGP has called for an investigation against US financial daily The Wall Street Journal ( WSJ ) for unauthorised access to information.
“The IGP’s statement that the police will investigate whoever had leaked the information and how WSJ had obtained it, does not help to rescue our country’s reputation,” Mahfuz ( photo ) is quoted as saying in an article in PAS’ official Facebook page today.
"It is in fact worsening the country's image and increases the distrust the international community has towards Malaysia, when the police force, which is supposed to protect the interests of the people and the country, is seen as trying to protect the crimes allegedly committed by heads of state,” he said.
Mahfuz said the IGP’s call issued on Wednesday has raised doubts in the public eye about the transparency of the special task force investigating 1MDB and the allegations made in the WSJ reports.
”After the acting and drama that is being played out by them, where is the transparency in the investigations,” he asked.
“To guarantee the integrity of the special task force and the country’s good name, I urge Khalid to be removed from the team, and to be relieved of his IGP post,” Mahfuz is quoted saying.
Yesterday, National Oversight and Whistleblowers (NOW) founder Rafizi Ramli and its executive director Akmal Nasir ( left and right respectively, in photo ) also called on the IGP not to penalise WSJ but to focus on the allegations made .
Meanwhile, former Sabah state secretary Simon Sipau has said he doubts the ability of the special task force to be completely unbiased, since it is headed by chief civil servants who have pledged their allegiance to the top leadership of the country.
Perkasa: What is 1MDB hiding?
Meanwhile Perkasa central committee member Azrul Akmal Saharudin expressed outrage that 1MDB had reportedly not fully cooperated with the ongoing Public Accounts Committee (PAC) inquiry into the scandal surrounding the Finance Ministry sovereign fund.
"What is worrying is why has 1MDB not given full cooperation [...]? What are they trying to hide?
"If it is true [...] then the authorities need to take over 1MDB in totality and stop its operations so that they can conduct a transparent and thorough probe," he said in a statement today.
Azrul warned that such negative reports were being followed closely by the public, and is putting the prime minister in bad light.
He added the formation of a royal commission of inquiry was the best option to probe 1MDB "without compromise", in order to avoid any further "doubt in the eyes of the public, when the results of the probe are released".
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