No need to table 1MDB’s financial statements, Putrajaya tells Parliament

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 20 — The financial statements of 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB) does not need to be tabled in the Dewan Rakyat, Prime Minister and Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today in a written reply.

Najib said the audited statements of 1MDB between 2009 and 2014 had been filed with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), while the rest are still not audited since police had seized documents from the strategic fund’s office in 2015.

“Any parties who need the financial statements of 1MDB should refer to documents from that source,” Najib said, referring to CCM.

“For everyone’s information, 1MDB’s financial statements were never tabled in Dewan Rakyat and are not required to.”

The reply was in response to Pagoh MP and Najib’s former deputy Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin who demanded Najib to explain why 1MDB’s statements have not been tabled since three years ago, and to explain the government’s commitment to hasten such a move.

Najib said 1MDB’s management has contacted the police to discuss the return of the documents seized, but there has been no development since.

“This has made the firm financial report’s auditing process difficult, because the auditor needs to refer to the original documents to verify the financial reports,” said the written reply.

Najib however assured that 1MDB’s auditor has started the auditing process on the 2015 and 2016 financial years based on available information.

“The estimated time of completion cannot be ascertained because police investigation is still ongoing,” he said.

In January, 1MDB confirmed the appointment of its new auditor — Parker Randall. It was the fourth auditing firm appointed by 1MDB after a controversial end to its previous three auditors: Ernst & Young, KPMG and Deloitt.

On September 20, Inspector-General of Police Tan Sri Mohamad Fuzi Harun said the police had concluded their investigation into 1MDB.

However, last month Attorney-General Tan Sri Apandi Ali had instructed further investigation into 1MDB, citing the lack of evidence in certain areas.