KUALA LUMPUR, May 30 — The special committee on 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) today summoned key officials to further explain matters in the recently declassified 1MDB report.
The officials in question were from the Audit Department, Finance Ministry and Securities Commission.
Its chairperson Tan Sri Abu Talib Othman said the committee, established on May 17, had spoken to representatives during a meeting at Ilham Tower today.
“They have explained to us in detail the report which was classified previously and recently declassified,” he told reporters in the building’s lobby.
On May 15, the Auditor-General Tan Sri Dr Madinah Mohamad announced the 1MDB report had been reclassified as an open document, after being classified as secret on January 22, 2016.
When asked for a timeframe for when the investigation would culminate in a trial, Abu Talib responded: “God only knows.”
Refusing to reveal other topics of discussion in today’s meeting, Abu Talib said the committee is merely focusing on coordinating all investigating teams and consolidating their actions to avoid any overlaps.
“We are only coordinating... We will see how as we go along,” he said.
The former attorney-general said it was premature to be making any statements regarding the committee’s findings thus far.
He also advised the public to wait until the police and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) had completed their probes.
“It is too early to be making comments. The police and MACC are proceeding with their investigations. Well, that’s what they say, so let us see the outcome of their investigations first,” he said.
He, however, stressed that the public should refrain from drawing their conclusions while the probes are still ongoing.
“Investigations must be done in accordance with the applicable laws, rules and procedures. You cannot just assume things,” he said.
It was not revealed when the 1MDB committee will meet again but Abu Talib indicated that all members will need to be present for a meeting to take place.
