London-based whistleblower site Sarawak Report has published some of the contents of what it claimed as the auditor-general's report on 1MDB despite the document being classified under the Official Secrets Act (OSA).
"Sarawak Report has now gained extensive access to the auditor-general's report on 1MDB, along with key accompanying documents from the enquiry," it said.
The whistleblower site listed out the various concerns that auditor-general Ambrin Buang had pointed out in his report, especially with regard to several questionable fund transfers. Sarawak Report also provided details on these fund transfers.
Malaysiakini cannot independently verify if the document published by Sarawak Report is authentic nor can it report on the contents due to legal restrictions.
It said it will publish more details from the auditor-general’s report in the coming days.
In April, Dewan Rakyat speaker Pandikar Amin Mulia had refused to allow the auditor-general's report on 1MDB to be tabled in Parliament as the report had yet to be declassified.
"I was told by the auditor-general himself that the report has yet to be declassified.
"I cannot allow a classified document to be tabled in the House. I will be violating the Official Secrets Act 1972 if I allow it," he said.
The auditor-general’s report on 1MDB was submitted to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on March 4.
The government has refused to say when the report will be declassified. So far, only members of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) have access to the report.
PAC chief Hasan Arifin had earlier claimed that the auditor-general's report would be declassified once the committee's report on 1MDB was tabled in Parliament.
'Right and dutiful'
Sarawak Report editor Clare Rewcastle-Brown told Malaysiakini that she feels it is only "right and dutiful" to publish the information contained in the auditor-general's report.
"As many Malaysians of great prominence and position have said before me, the purpose of the OSA is to protect the interests of the rakyat and not to protect individuals from discovery or the consequences of criminal behaviour against the rakyat.
"Unfortunately, it is plain for all to see that it is the latter reason that prompted the OSA order on this auditor's report, which had earlier been promised as the investigation would shed light and transparency on the whole 1MDB affair and give the official and truthful version of events," she said in an email.
When asked if she is concerned about the possibility of extradition, she urged Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak to immediately initiate extradition proceedings against her, so she can face trial.
"He should get on with it in the most public possible way, so that all can judge his motives and justifications in an objective court of law - away from judges whom he appointed and controls.
"It is time the world started to learn what has happened to the once largely respectable and law abiding government of Malaysia," she said.
