PKR has threatened to refer Second Finance Minister Husni Hanadzlah to the parliamentary rights and privileges committee for contradictory answers from the government on billionaire Ananda Krishnan's involvement in a RM2 billion funding for 1Malaysia Development Bhd (1MDB).

Yesterday, Husni told the Dewan Rakyat that Ananda Krishnan's firm helped secure a RM2 billion refinancing loan for 1MDB from private investors.

This is in direct contradiction to a previous parliamentary written answer that Ananda Krishnan did not loan any money to 1MDB and that  it would be using the 1MDB funds repatriated from the Cayman Islands to service the bank interest payments on its debts.

PKR's Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin ( right ) today demanded that the Finance Ministry explains this "contradiction", failing which the party would refer Husni to the rights committee for misleading the House.

 

In a written answer to PKR's Batu MP Tian Chua on March 11, the ministry merely said that the report claiming that Ananda Krishnan had extended the loan to 1MDB was not true.

 

In another written answer to the same MP on March 14, it said that 1MDB's RM2 billion repayments were made using the Cayman Islands money and not using any money loaned by Ananda.

 

Sim also questioned if the loan was given according to Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) regulations.

 

"Normally, only a bank can give a loan. Who are these private investors that had given the loan? Were the rules relaxed for these investors?" Sim asked.

 

Chua meanwhile urged the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) to make it their priority to call in 1MDB CEO Arul Kanda Kandasamy and Ananda Krishnan himself over the matter.

 

Related stories

PM gives one-liner to query on 1MDB loans

Minister may face rights panel on 1MDB loan

Pua: Minister deserves Oscar for 1MDB act

KPMG defends 1MDB audit