Prime Minister Najib Razak has asked the public to respect the judicial process and not jump to conclusions as the US Department of Justice (DoJ)
Speaking to the media yesterday — soon after the US authorities filed civil complaints to seize more than US$1 billion in assets linked to the 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB), in what it has called the largest case ever brought by the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative — Najib said the government regarded the issue seriously and would cooperate with US investigators.
The Malay Mail Online reports that Najib also stressed that it would ‘be unfair to pass judgement on the individuals identified in the lawsuit simply for being named in the filing.’
“Because of that, the process must be respected. Meaning, an individual has the opportunity to defend himself or use the judicial process in court and we rightly should not jump to any conclusions so long as the process has yet to be completed,” Najib had reportedly said after the Felda Hari Raya open house at Menara Felda.
“Good governance is something that will always be prioritised in Malaysia,” he was quoted further.
“It must be explained that this is a civil action, and not a criminal action. And it is limited to the names mentioned in the DoJ report,” he said.
“Therefore, from the government’s viewpoint, we will fully cooperate with all international investigating bodies. It has always been out stand that we do not want to see any action that may violate any laws,” Najib said.
Prosecutors in the US said more than US$3.5 billion in 1MDB funds were allegedly misappropriated by high-level officials of the local state investment firm and their associates between 2009 and 2015.
Meanwhile, Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali reportedly said that there has been no evidence from any investigation to show that 1MDB funds had been misappropriated.
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The Star Online quoted him as saying in response to the civil suit ‘that at no point in the civil claim filed by the US DOJ is the Prime Minister named as a defendant or have been alleged to have committed any criminal wrong doing.’
He added that Malaysian police were currently investigating matters related to 1MDB, and that given the situation, it would not be appropriate to divulge details that ‘may compromise the investigation’.
“The Attorney-General must emphasise that it is crucial to preserve the integrity of the investigation as the public must not doubt the outcome of the investigation,” he was quoted as saying in a statement.
According to the Malay Mail Online, Foreign Affairs Minister Anifah Aman met with US ambassador Joseph Y. Yun, stating that Malaysia has not yet received any request for information from the US.
