The opposition is alarmed by the reports that 1MDB accounts in Switzerland had been frozen on suspicion of corruption and money-laundering.

PKR vice-president Nurul Izzah Anwar said this gives further justification to their effort in filing the suit against Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak, BN secretary-general Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor, 1MDB and Election Commission.

“Don't tell me there is no recourse in Malaysia (following the freeze in accounts),” she said.

Nurul Izzah ( photo ) was commenting on a report carried by Reuters yesterday, that the Swiss authorities had frozen funds in Swiss banks amid investigations of the troubled state investment fund.

“The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG) has frozen assets amounting to several tens of millions of US dollars on Swiss bank accounts,” an OAG spokesperson said by email in response to an enquiry.

“At this early stage of the procedure, the OAG is analysing and consolidating evidence. The OAG is already in contact with the Malaysian authorities. International cooperation with foreign countries, in particular with Malaysia, will probably be necessary to establish the facts."

However, 1MDB in a statement yesterday said it was not aware of it.

“None of the company’s bank accounts have been frozen. 1MDB is in the process of developing a better understanding of the on-going investigations in Switzerland so the company can cooperate to its fullest extent,” it said.

Nurul Izzah, who is also Lembah Pantai MP, said Najib must answer all the allegations or leave the political scene.

“So far there is a deafening silence from Najib,” said the federal lawmaker, adding that this shows the prime minister is incompetent.

Nurul Izzah said Najib and Malaysia had been shamed following the hosting of the International Anti-Corruption Convention, as international delegates including Transparency International chairperson, Jose Ugaz ( photo ), had criticised the PM.

Scandal directly involves a sitting PM

Batu MP and PKR vice-president Tian Chua described the present 1MDB matters as a serious scandal in Malaysia that directly involves a sitting prime minister.

“It involves the political structure and the various pivotal institutions that are controlled and this involves everything including the use of government apparatus.

“This legal suit is the only channel to uncover the entire truth on the scandal, and the government should maintain a certain sense of the rule of law. They should allow the suit to proceed and it should not be dismissed,” he said.

As a citizen and a federal lawmaker, Tian Chua ( photo ) said he is representing his constituents and they have a right to know what is going on.

“It is our duty to the constituents to proceed with the suit. There is gross abuse of public funds," he added.

Parti Amanah Negara secretary Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad, who was also present at the press conference, thanked god that the suit had been filed as there are serious accusations of corruption, criminal breach of trust and cheating.

“In the past, we have written questions to seek answers, but they were never answered. This suit is the best way to move on and to seek answers,” said Dzulkefly, who is former Kuala Selangor MP.