Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak said he is very confident that the recovery plan to reduce 1Malaysia Development Berhad's (1MDB) debt will bear fruit.

"Recovery measures can be done to reduce 1MDB's total debt and this is what the government is working on.

"I am confident that the MoF (finance ministry) can help ensure this recovery plan is executed even though we are facing so much criticism.

"Sooner or later, we will prove that the objective of the rescue or recovery measures for 1MDB can be achieved," he told civil servants from the finance ministry during their monthly gathering in Putrajaya this morning.

The gathering was also attended by Finance Minister II Ahmad Husni Mohamad Hanadzlah, Deputy Finance Minister Ahmad Maslan and secretary-general of treasury Mohd Irwan Serigar Abdullah.

Najib added questions about 1MDB will be answered soon after the Auditor-General's Department presents its report on the matter to the Public Accounts Committee.

Court of public opinion

Last Sunday, Najib in a blog posting urged the public not to speculate or make conclusions about 1MDB before the audit is completed.

He advised the public against relying on information from social media about 1MDB.

He added that it was unfair for certain politicians to punish the government in the court of public opinion before the facts were presented.

The prime minister's statements about 1MDB came after months of silence following relentless attacks by former prime minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad.

Mahathir has repeatedly demanded Najib to resign as prime minister, zooming in on his handling of  the beleaguered 1MDB as well as policy matters and family wealth.