Has the special task force investigating allegations surrounding 1MDB recorded a statement from Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, asks PKR lawmaker Rafizi Ramli.

Rafizi said Najib is the most important figure with regard to this investigation.

“This question is also lingering on the minds of the people and if Najib has not been questioned, it will cast aspersions on the independence of the task force,” he added in a statement.

Najib is the chairperson of the 1MDB advisory board.

The task force is also probing the claim that RM2.6 billion of 1MDB-linked funds were transferred into the prime minister’s personal bank accounts.

Rafizi ( photo ) pointed out that under Article 117 of the 1MDB memorandum and articles of association, all decisions related to the company's investments, debt and other matters must be approved by the prime minister.

"This means he is aware of the dealings in question, which have led 1MDB to accumulate more than RM42 billion in debt," he said.

Rafizi's call for the task force to move in on Najib came amid a travel ban on DAP's Petaling Jaya MP Tony Pua.

Pua has been accused by former journalist Lester Melanyi, who claims to have contributed to whistleblower Sarawak Report , of fabricating information to sully 1MDB and the prime minister.

Sarawak Report editor-in-chief Clare Rewcastle-Brown has denied that Lester worked for the whistleblower site, claiming it to be an attempt to sidetrack from the allegations against the prime minister.

The whistleblower portal, which was last week blocked by the government, was responsible for a series of reports alleging misappropriation of 1MDB's funds.

Rafizi said despite travel ban on an elected representative responsible for exposing 1MDB, persons with interests in the 1MDB matter to slip out of the country.

"I am shocked by a report by theSun that the authorities have failed to trace three key people linked to 1MDB, namely Jho Low ( photo ), Nik Faisal Nik Othman Kamil and Suboh Mohd Yassin for questioning at a time when Pua was barred from leaving the country.

"The report said one of them is suspected to be in Indonesia, meaning that they managed to slip out, but those who are staunch critics of the government over 1MDB are barred from leaving the country," he said.

Rafizi urged the special task force to expedite its investigation.

The special task force comprises the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission and Bank Negara, and it also refers to the Attorney-General's Chambers for legal guidance.

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