PUTRAJAYA, June 20 ― The manner in which the US Justice Department (DoJ) announced its lawsuits to seize assets allegedly linked to 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) suggests partiality in its action, a minister asserted today.

Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan further said the department's latest series of actions appeared motivated by politics rather than the law.

"The case has not been brought to court yet but you have statements alluding to certain facts of the case. It is still being investigated. If investigation still going on, why conclude so fast?

"The manner in which they present case is unbecoming and unusual. It was heavy handed. The language used was very heavy handed," he told reporters in a press conference today.

The Barisan Nasional strategic communications director added there was concern the DoJ's remarks could be used as political capital with which to attack the Malaysian government.

He stressed that he was not criticising the US agency for its action, but said it could have been presented in a less controversial manner.

"You are talking about a country that is going to have a general elections soon, this kind of press statement will fully be utilised and misused by opposition,” he said,

Parliament will automatically be dissolved in June 2017 if a general election is not called before then.

The DoJ last week announced that it was filing additional lawsuits to seize US$540 million (RM2.3 billion) in assets allegedly linked to 1MDB.

1MDB maintains that it is completely uninvolved in the US action.