MP SPEAKS In an interview with Singapore broadcaster Channel NewsAsia, the auditor-general Ambrin Buang said his report on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) provided sufficient basis for an investigation on the state investment firm.
“I think our report is sufficient as a basis for further investigation, we have done our job.
“The next step as recommended by PAC, they want investigation on certain personality in the company, let the police do their work, we will assist anyone who wants (to) investigate," Ambrin was quoted saying, referring to the public accounts committee (PAC).
However, despite the PAC having tabled its report on April 7, more than six weeks ago, the Royal Malaysian Police has not even called up the key 1MDB protagonist identified in the entire scandal!
Home and Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi informed the Parliament yesterday that the police have yet to question former 1MDB CEO Shahrol Azral Halmi as part of their probe into the sovereign wealth fund.
"All witnesses involved will be called by police if necessary to record their statements and for further investigations. Shahrol has not been called to record his statement as of yet," Zahid said when replying to the Member of Parliament for Raub, Mohd Ariff Sabri.
Why are the police dragging their feet over the entire investigation?
What of my police report?
In fact, I have personally first lodged a police report against 1MDB in March 2015, seeking investigations over the role of Shahrol Halmi, Jho Low and other individuals over their involvement in the 1MDB PetroSaudi investments.
For example, Shahrol Halmi had instructed payments of US$1.03 billion to Good Star Limited, which the Bank Negara Malaysia has informed the PAC as being “a company owned by an individual unrelated to PetroSaudi International Limited”.
I am not sure if I should be shocked that the Police have failed to even interview the 1MDB key-man after more than a year. Now that even the PAC and the auditor-general have both indicted Shahrol Halmi over the gross mismanagement of 1MDB, what else is the inspector-general of police (IGP) Khalid Abu Bakar waiting for?
The IGP is after all famous for being a Twitter-happy top cop, demanding instant arrests and questioning of witnesses and suspects over the most trivial of alleged offences like “insulting” a leader. Why is Khalid taking his own sweet time over what has been internationally recognised “the heist of the century”?
We call upon the Royal Malaysian Police to act with the necessary haste and urgency to ensure that the culprits behind the RM50 billion monster scandal are quickly brought to justice.
The failure by the Police to act, and the irony of the speed of investigations overseas will only lead Malaysians to conclude that they are doing their utmost best to cover up the heinous crime involving the most powerful political figures in the country.
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TONY PUA is DAP national publicity secretary and Petaling Jaya Utara MP.
