A special sitting of Parliament should be called to address recent startling allegations that state-owned 1MDB's funds went into the private bank account of Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.

Opposition leader Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, who made the call today, explained this was necessary as the claim made by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) should be taken seriously.

"A special Parliament sitting should be called. The governor of Bank Negara and the attorney-general should attend to explain  development of investigations into the case," Wan Azizah said.

"Meanwhile, the prime minister should take leave, pending the outcome of the investigation," she said when addressing more than 100 MPs and civil society representatives gathered at Parliament Square to discuss the criminal allegations against Najib.

"We cannot have the executive there because the attorney-general is entrusted to this job by the prime minister," Wan Azizah said.

'Never in history'

As to civil society group Negaraku patron S Ambiga's call for a caretaker government made up from a unity government, she said the opposition would have to discuss the matter.

Wan Azizah added they would also discuss Ambiga's suggestion that the opposition MPs meet Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin to ask him to demand that Najib go on leave pending the result of the investigation against him.

The Permatang Pauh parliamentarian said the the allegations relating to 1MDB have directly impacted the economy and country.

 

The nation's policies, including the subsidies given to the rakyat, have changed due to 1MDB's financial burden, she said.

 

"WSJ's accusation against the prime minister should be taken seriously. Never in history have we had a prime minister accused by a prominent international publication," she said.

 

She also called for civil society to come out in force to show it rejects such abuse of trust by a country's leader.