KUALA LUMPUR, May 14 — Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah has been relieved of all duties as Secretary-General of the Treasury with immediate effect, according to the Chief Secretary.
The decision is the latest by Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad’s administration that is launching fresh investigations on officials linked to former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak’s brainchild, 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).
According to Chief Secretary Tan Sri Ali Hamsa, the government was also opting to discontinue Irwan’s contract ahead of schedule.
“Tan Sri Irwan Serigar was contracted to be Secretary-General of the Treasury effective March 7, 2017 to March 6, 2019.
“The government has decided to shorten the contract period to June 14, 2018,” he said in a statement.
Ali added that Irwan will be placed under the Public Services Department and is barred from performing any of his duties as head of the Treasury.
As Secretary-General of the Treasury, Irwan heads over a dozen government-linked corporations including 1MDB.
Najib and his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor, have both been barred from leaving Malaysia pending investigations on the firm.
*A previous version of this report erroneously stated Tan Sri Irwan Serigar Abdullah’s position to be Treasurer-General. It has since been amended to reflect his correct post.
