As Singapore concludes its two-year review of the banks involved in 1MDB-related transactions, Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia (Bersatu) chairperson Dr Mahathir Mohamad finds it preposterous for Malaysia to insist that all is well with the state fund.

Mahathir’s comments come amid investigations and prosecution related to the 1MDB scandal continuing in various countries.

“It is well-known that criminal acts in the government do not constitute official secrets. In fact, it is the duty of everyone in the government or outside the government to report such crimes.

“It is absurd if the Malaysian government insists there is nothing wrong with 1MDB when other countries are arresting people, closing banks and declaring that massive money laundering is done involving 1MDB money.

“If really there have been no wrongdoings, then the attorney-general must show proof that the money is all there, safe and sound,” Mahathir said in a posting on his blog today.

Among others, Mahathir pointed out that Singapore had shut down two banks, arrested, fined and jailed seven people, over the 1MDB scandal.

He noted that the US Department of Justice had identified and frozen US$1 billion in properties that supposedly came from funds misappropriated from 1MDB, while the Swiss are also investigating the scandal.

Scathing 1MDB media reports worldwide

He said media reports about 1MDB throughout the world were similarly scathing, and would have been defamatory to Najib if untrue.

“But at home, all that happens is that the attorney-general simply declared that the prime minister has not committed any wrongdoings. This was corroborated by the prime minister.

“In the face of all these allegations, reports, statements and worldwide condemnations, shouldn’t the attorney-general open again the police investigations on the shenanigans involved in the management of 1MDB money and remove the reports by Bank Negara, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and the auditor-general, from the Official Secrets Act?” he asked.

Amid the 1MDB scandal, Najib has consistently denied using public funds for personal gain.

Attorney-general Mohamed Apandi Ali, who had cleared Najib of wrongdoing, said the RM2.6 billion deposit into Najib’s personal bank account was a donation from a member of the Saudi royal family, and that most of it has been returned.

In addition, Apandi said, Najib had no knowledge of the RM42 million funds from former 1MDB subsidiary SRC International that were transferred into his personal bank account.