Newly minted Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali says he cannot comment now on whether the four-agency task force investigating the 1MDB will continue with its work or otherwise.

“I have yet to see the investigation papers and it is not right for me to comment without looking at them. Let me look first,” Apandi replied when contacted by Malaysiakini , before hanging up his phone.

So far five people have been picked up by the task force and remanded since last week, with the fifth person, a despatch rider, being released on bail of RM50,000 today.

A company owner, two directors and a company managing director who were remanded by members of the task force have also been released on bail.

Malaysiakini sought Apandi's comments following fears expressed by various quarters, including the opposition and the Bar Council, on the surprise move by Chief Secretary to the Government Ali Hamsa in removing Abdul Gani Patail as attorney-general three months before he is due to retire, citing Gani’s health as the reason.

Apandi, 65, a former Federal Court judge, was endorsed as the new AG by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong on Monday and Gani’s retirement was announced yesterday.

Sources from the police and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, when contacted today and yesterday, also refused to comment whether on the on-going task force investigation would continue following Gani’s departure.

The investigation was launched earlier this month following a report in The Wall Street Journal that money from the troubled sovereign fund had been deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's personal bank accounts.

Besides the police and MACC, Bank Negara and the Attorney-General’s Chambers are the other members of the high-powered task force.

Moves that hampered 1MDB investigation

DAP parliamentary leader and Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang has said the auditor-general’s interim report on 1MDB that has not been made public, the disruption in the PAC inquiry and the removal of Gani from the task force investigation have hampered the investigation against Najib.

Bar Council chairperson Steven Thiru ( photo ) has also described Gani’s removal as interference in the 1MDB investigation.

Even former deputy prime minister Muhyiddin Yassin has expressed hope that Apandi would continue with the on-going investigations into 1MDB, so the people could get answers into the company's alleged financial improprieties.

"I hope the new AG will continue with the huge responsibility, so that people will get the answers on whether there were any wrongdoings to ensure all the perceptions regarding 1MDB can be explained and that there won't be any doubts.

"It is important to give closure to it, so whoever is the new A-G has a huge responsibility," Muhyiddin had said.

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