Newly-minted Attorney-General Mohamed Apandi Ali said today the advice or instructions given by his office to the special task force investigating 1MDB cannot be revealed to the public.
Apandi said this in response to an unprecedented joint statement released by all five of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission's (MACC) oversight committees yesterday, calling on the attorney-general to provide regular updates on the investigations to the public
"More specifically it would not be appropriate to disclose the advice, instructions, directions or guidance given to the investigating agencies.
"While the public is entitled to be informed, details of criminal investigations that comprise, among other things, contents of statements given by witnesses are privileged and the law prohibits such matters to be disclosed," Apandi said in a statement today.
He also noted that the special task force was already providing its own regular updates, based on the press statements it released.
'Not appropriate to compromise investigations'
"Regardless of those general updates, given that investigations are under way, it would not be appropriate to divulge details that may compromise those investigations," he said.
The special task force is investigating, among others, claims that RM2.6 billion was deposited into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak's private bank accounts.
Yesterday, the five MACC oversight committees said clear updates were needed to prevent any negative perception about the 1MDB investigations.
"The panels would also like to urge that in giving legal advice and guidance to the special task force, the attorney-general should provide clear updates on developments in the investigations in order to prevent negative perceptions of the agencies in the special task force," the joint statement of the committees said.
The statement came a day after attorney-general Abdul Gani Patail was sacked and replaced with Apandi.
Apandi in his statement today stressed that the integrity of the investigation must be preserved.
"As the investigating agencies have repeatedly emphasised in previous media statements on this matter, it is crucial to preserve the integrity of the investigation as the public must not doubt the investigation," he said.
He also thanked the five committees for their deep interest in the matter.
Dr M: Najib thinks it's a good cabinet, not public
Mahathir: It's a crime to comment on 1MDB
Nur Jazlan denies selling out PAC for higher post
'Najib has succeeded in clinging to power but...'
Crying need for Najib to come clean
'Muhyiddin video words of angry, upset man’
'Deal with RM2.6b like how you did with Altantuya'
Hadi: Let new cabinet perform before judging
Zahid assures Muhyiddin will not be arrested
Ex-PAC man sold his soul to the devil
Sacked AG urged to verify ‘Najib's charge sheet’
A new definition for a new era
After leaked video, will IGP arrest Najib?
AG: ‘False’ charge sheet indicates plot to topple PM
