A special task force has been formed, an investigation has been initiated into the 1MDB scandal and bank accounts have been frozen.
Apart from this, members of the public have no clue as to what is happening in what could perhaps be one of the greatest financial scandals of all times on Malaysian soil.
For starters, a DAP lawmaker has urged Attorney-General Abdul Gani Patail, who is heading the task force, to reveal what it is looking for in its 1MDB investigation.
"I think it is important for an assurance to be given that this investigation is not just a formality, with no direction and will ultimately end up without impact," Gobind Singh Deo ( photo ) said today.
Pointing out the matter has generated great publicity, both locally and abroad, Gobind said while the AG thought it fit to announce the investigation by the task force, there are no details on the scope of its work.
"Malaysians have a right to know what possible offences the police are looking at in this investigation and who, if any so far, the prime suspects are.
"An announcement to this effect will also make it possible for people with information to come forward to assist in the investigations.
"It has been announced that various bank accounts have been frozen, while others are being looked at as well, but there are no details from the AG as to whose accounts these are or why they have been frozen," Gobind added.
The task force revealed it haa frozen six bank accounts, but dismissed media reports that three of them belonged to Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak.
Open to further suspicion
Later, Gani revealed there was no need to freeze the prime minister's AmBank accounts as these have already been closed.
This was after The Wall Street Journal reported, citing information obtained from Malaysian investigators, that RM2.6 billion had been deposited into Najib’s personal bank accounts.
Gobind said a silent investigation does not inspire confidence, and would keep people guessing - which would make an already difficult situation open to further suspicion.
"This surely cannot be what the AG has in mind, nor intends to achieve, given the highly controversial nature of the problem at hand.
"He should therefore do all that he can in order to build public confidence in the task force and he should start by telling us exactly who and what are the focus of investigations of the task force," he added.
Gobind said there was also a need to know if there is any cause for concern over the use and whereabouts of funds involved in this case.
"If any, and if so, what the police plan to do about it in the meanwhile.
"There should be clarity in terms of direction in the investigation and the steps that need to be taken in order to deal with the problem.
"This becomes very important, so as to ensure that there is no conflict on the part of any of those on the task force, which will taint the outcome of the investigations," Gobind added.
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