KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 — A PKR federal lawmaker took issue today with Umno leaders comparing the Selangor Darul Ehsan Investment Group (DEIG) controversy to 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB), repeating her colleagues’ position that both issues have nothing in common.

In a statement, Ampang MP Zuraida Kamaruddin singled out Datuk Abdul Rahman Dahlan for first making the comparison, saying it was an insult to try and paint her party members like those in Umno.

“Rahman Dahlan is simply trying to downplay the severity of the 1MDB issue by questioning DEIG. How lame it is to compare apples and oranges,” the Wanita PKR chief said.

“DEIG has not even started operations yet, does not have assets or funds, nor does it even have a single transaction, let alone secret Swiss accounts that can channel billions into the Mentri Besar’s account,” she added.

Zuraida pointed out that a holding company like DEIG that has board members from the State Secretariat, Mentri Besar Incorporated (MBI) and professionals well-versed in strategic investments is subjected to the Companies Act 1965, which stipulates under Section 169(1) that it must declare its accounts.

The accounts are also available for public viewing via the Companies Commission of Malaysia’s portal, and will be scrutinised during audits for accuracy, she added.

DEIG is also under the charge of the MBI, which is in turn answerable to the Selangor assembly, Zuraida added.

“To try to paint PKR members like those in Umno is a downright insult. It is precisely with this sense of accountability and justice that we are fighting against Umno and Barisan Nasional.

“So to those detractors who seem so concerned over DEIG, please be assured that DEIG is definitely not 1MDB.

“As our MB said, 1MDB is a donation, whereas DEIG is an investment,” she said.

On Friday, Abdul Rahman, who is also Barisan Nasional (BN) strategic communications director, said the DEIG controversy was more disturbing that the donation in Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s accounts as it involved RM30 billion in assets under MBI, a sum much higher than the RM2.6 billion.

The urban wellbeing, housing and local government minister also accused opposition leaders who have been critical of the debt-laden 1MDB, such as Selangor DAP chief Tony Pua, of trying to sidestep the DEIG issue on social media.

Last week, the Selangor assembly asked the state government to restudy and present a written reply to the assemblymen on the DEIG mooted by Mentri Besar Azmin Ali.

The state lawmaking house unanimously voted for the report on DEIG asking Azmin, who is also PKR deputy president, to present a written reply on the risk management firm to the assembly by November.

The decision was reached following a motion on a report prepared by the state’s select committee on government agencies, statutory bodies and state government subsidiary companies chaired by Hulu Kelang assemblyman Shaari Sungib.

During the debate session, Azmin faced a barrage of questions from assemblymen on both sides of the political divide on the inception of DEIG.

They also wanted him to list the fine details on the risk management firm.

Azmin had previously claimed that DEIG would minimise Selangor’s exposure to investment risks and was needed due to the “tainted” legacy his predecessor, Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim left on MBI.