1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) is now the biggest weapon in the opposition’s arsenal and for those in Umno who want to see Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak removed from power.

As the pressure mounted, Najib called on the auditor-general to examine the firm’s accounts and vowed action if wrongdoings were detected.

While detractors such have dismissed the audit as eyewash, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Paul Low, however, said the government is serious in wanting to know the truth.

The move, he added, is not a “classic way of distracting comments” from the six-year-old debt-laden firm, which is the brainchild of Najib.

"The government is serious in getting to the truth. The auditor-general is requested to do the audit not just about the account but whatever that is necessary to get to the truth, particularly areas relating to what the public is worried about.

“There are some people who claimed that this is a classic way of distracting comments by the public but it is not true.

“The auditor’s findings will be presented to the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) which is bipartisan, transparent and open,” he was quoted as saying by Bernama .

On March 9, Inspector-General of Police Khalid Abu Bakar ( right ) said a special task force comprising representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has been formed to investigate into complaints on the status of 1MDB.

 

Low said the audit by the auditor-general and the task force were carried out simultaneously and independently.

 

“Please bear in mind that they are not receiving instructions from anyone and (there is) no interference too.

“I can assure you that it is proceeding independently to verify accusations because the public need to know (the truth).

 

“The auditor-general's report will be made public,” he added.