KUALA LUMPUR, May 1 — Strategic fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) has urged against linking it to a reported investigation by Swiss authorities in relation to a Saudi Arabian oil company, Swiss citizens and the Swiss banking system.
It said the matter should not be politicised, nor brought up during the election’s campaigning period by linking 1MDB to said probe.
“There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by 1MDB or any of its officials. So it is irresponsible and reprehensible for an act by Swiss investigators to be twisted and framed as an inquiry into 1MDB and its shareholders,” it said in a brief statement.
“We wish to state in the strongest possible terms that 1MDB is not the subject of any criminal investigation either in Malaysia or internationally. We have and remain ready to assist the investigation of any lawful authority, in line with international protocols. Until today, 1MDB has not received any such request.”
“1MDB asks all parties to refrain from politicising any alleged investigation by the Swiss authorities on non-Malaysian nationals, and, during this sensitive general election period, desist from trying to create links to 1MDB for political gain,” it added.
The statement by 1MDB comes just days after the 11-day campaign period for the 14th general election started on April 28.
While 1MDB did not further specify the news outlet or the company being probed, UK business paper Financial Times (FT) had earlier today published a report on the Swiss public prosecutor’s criminal probe on unnamed officials of the PetroSaudi company.
FT reported that the PetroSaudi officials are suspected of various actions, including criminal mismanagement, bribery, aggravated money laundering.
According to FT, PetroSaudi has said it was aware of an ongoing probe related to 1MDB by the Swiss authorities, but has asserted that it was not being probed in that investigation.
PetroSaudi had also reportedly denied that it or its officials were part of the alleged misappropriation of funds from 1MDB and said it will give full cooperation to any authorities carrying out investigations.
