KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 20 — DAP’s Tony Pua today categorised 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) as behaving arrogantly for telling him to investigate an alleged information leak in the Public Accounts Committee instead of continuing his accusations against the firm.
The Petaling Jaya Utara MP said it was his public duty to press 1MDB for answers over reported allegations of financial impropriety, which he accused the firm of repeatedly dodging in its press statements.
Pua has demanded 1MDB explain reports by the Wall Street Journal that billions of dollars from the firm to the UAE’s International Petroleum Investment Corporation (IPIC) was not reflected in the sovereign wealth fund’s accounts.
“Instead of answering the above scandalous questions pertaining to the billions of ringgit of ‘missing’ funds entrusted with 1MDB, the company executives are acting with impunity by telling an elected Member of Parliament to effectively go mind his own business.
“It is my role and responsibility as a Malaysian Member of Parliament (MP) to scrutinise entities responsible for the tax-payers’ monies. It is my sworn duty to demand accountability and transparency from the Government,” Pua said in a statement today.
1MDB yesterday insisted that it has answered Pua’s questions about its transactions, adding that the information was also readily available in its audited accounts.
It then told Pua to direct his energy towards investigating how the WSJ was able to obtain transcripts of the PAC’s hearings on 1MDB that are classified by law.
Pua today also demanded 1MDB appoint new auditors to re-examine its accounts from 2013 and 2014 to “to ensure that every sen in 1MDB has been properly accounted for and has not been embezzled or misappropriated.”
Both Pua and 1MDB have engaged in regular public exchanges over the lawmaker’s continued attention on the state-owned firm that is RM42 billion in debt.
