Lawyers voting on motion for RCI on 1MDB at Bar EGM Saturday

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The Malaysian Bar will vote on a single motion at its extraordinary general meeting (EGM) on Saturday, calling for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on 1MDB, following high-handed action by the authorities on investigations into the troubled state fund.

Forwarded by its president Steven Thiru, the motion also does not discount the possibility of the Bar Council taking action, including suing any person responsible for the interference or obstruction made to the administration of justice and into the on-going 1MDB investigations.

It wants the RCI to focus on allegations of financial impropriety concerning 1MDB and its subsidiary companies; the transfer of RM2.6 billion into Prime Minister Najib Abdul Razak’s personal bank accounts; and the flow of RM42 million from SRC International Sdn Bhd into Najib’s accounts.

The motion include suggestions that the RCI findings and recommendations be made public and further action be taken.

A copy of the nine-page long motion was sighted by Malaysiakini .

The call for the EGM follows concerns from the Bar Council and lawyers over reports related to the sovereign fund following allegations of RM2.6 billion deposited into Najib’s personal accounts.

Related to the issue, two publications under The Edge Media Group were suspended for three months for reports on 1MDB.

In addition, the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission also blocked access to the Sarawak Report website which also reported on the funds trasferred to the prime minister's account.

The motion also sought a condemnation to the interference by the authorities on the on-going investigations done by the Malaysian Anti Corruption Commission (MACC) and Bank Negara, which saw several of its officers being called in for questioning.

Thiru further wants the Malaysian Bar members to debate the motion to condemn the abrupt removal of Abdul Gani Patail as the attorney-general; the crippling of the Public Accounts Committee; as well as the harassment and intimidation on the MACC, Bank Negara, the Attorney-General’s Chambers, and the Special Branch which had recently seen the transfer of its top two officers.

The Malaysian Bar has about 14,000 members.



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